The Second Coming.......

A week between updates? That's better. 

Managed to knock out the second Deff Dread this week, bringing the painted total to 2 Deff Dreads, 3 Killa Kans and a Big Mek. Must admit im relieved to have it finished, the sheer amount of chipping on it is a real time killer.

Next up for the Orks will be the second Big Mek, which i'll be showing a WIP of next week.

Also coming up next week will be the start of a retrospective series focusing on my Death Guard army, who will soon be receiving some reinforcements in the form of some Traitor Militia and a small warband of Chaos Renegades. I'll be starting the retrospective next sunday, Dec 5th.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

It's been a while.....

Wow, nearly 3 weeks without a new post. Thats really not good, and nowhere near the amount I wanted to be posting. Sadly it'll probably be going at a similar rate for the next few weeks running up to Christmas, solely down to work - when you work in retail Christmas is hell, don't let anyone tell you any differently.

Work aside it's not been the most pleasant last couple of weeks, I spent most of it down with a chest infection that I still haven't fully shaken off, added to that some severe back pain and your left with no hobby mojo whatsoever.

Well, there was some mojo, but nothing for painting. Instead, I spent the last few weeks dreaming up ideas for new armies, but thats for another post.


The one thing I did manage to do is get the first of the Big Meks finished. There's bits im not happy with but it's done at least, and that means one less figure to paint. Still needs a couple of coats of varnish to even everything out but the weather isn't great for spraying anything at the moment.

Seeing as I forgot to add a pre-painted pic of the first Big Mek i've dug one out for all to see. Built mostly from the Nob kit, with an added burna, the Kustom Force Field from the metal Big Mek and some plasticard and plastic tube for the welding mask and burna tanks.

Next up on the block will be the second Deff Dread as it's the only thing i've got undercoated at the moment, then i'll be doing a blitz on the rest of the work for Mol over at INQ28.

I've also got something in the pipeline with Sorrowshard over at Rant in E Minor, that should happen in the next few weeks. If he pulls his finger out.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

First among many......

Bit of a long one wait between updates, due to a single reason - Fallout New Vegas. Sadly im one of those people that can't do anything else until i've finished a game, which killed any hobby mojo. Luckily I managed to get the first of 2 Deff Dreads done just before the game came out.

Very pleased with how it turned out, even if it took a little longer than I wanted it to. Far too many edges to add chipping to.

Going to work on the second Dread next, then im going to work on a test figure for a new marine army.

Thanks for reading.

Another Kan?

Not much to report for the last couple of weeks, im still reeling from the Forge World mojo killing from Games Day/

On the plus side, i've managed to get a couple of things done. Firstly, another character for Mol over at Inq28, and another Killa Kan, bringing the current total to 3.

I've also made a start on the first of 2 Deff Dreads for the army. This is at the basecoat stage, next its on to the washes, which should take half the time the basecoats took. Expect some finished photos in the next couple of days.

Thats about it today, though I can't really sign off without thanking Mol at Inq28 for the large box he sent me last week. Not going to give up too many details of whats in it, though it will be Mega....


Thanks for reading.

Break from the Kans.....

Wow, a week between posts. Im not pleased to have a big gap between posts but real life gets in the way sometimes. This week, real life meant Halo Reach. Quick review - looks pretty, plays well but it's too short with a pretty uninspiring ending.


I know I mentioned a tutorial for the Killa Kans this week but got a little side tracked on a Deff Kopta for a monthly painting contest over on The Ammobunker forum. This month was mounted figures, so figured a Kopta would be a good bet, and still have me painting something for the army.

Not the greatest of pictures admittedly, but it gives and idea of where im heading. Still the wash to do, then its on to details and basing. One thing to mention is on the use of magnets - i've used two on the Kopta, one on the rotor blades, and another on the base. Im not the biggest fan of using magnets to fix models to bases but as im aiming to get 2000 points of Orks into the smallest case possible it was a concession I had to make. I'll go into more detail about the assembly and the fitting of the magnets when I get round to another Deff Kopta.

Next today is my round up of some of the blogs i've been watching or in the case of one, contributing to.

Dave Taylor Miniatures - Is there anyone in the hobby who hasn't seen Dave's work and gone 'that is awesome'. Fantastic work from the Ex-GW man who brought us such delights as his Legio Custodes, the Genswick 33rd and more recently his Blood Pact and the charity Storm Wardens Space Marine army.

Mister Justin - A great blog from the owner of Secret Weapon Miniatures, who specializes in resin bases and weathering products. Some excellent tutorials on the use of weathering pigments and effects.

INQ28 - A fantastic blog on a fantastic theme, Commissar Molotov has taken an idea first given birth on Dakka Dakka and ran with it, creating a huge world of Inquisitorial intrigue at 28mm. Im nearing the end of a commission for him to paint a couple of Inquisitorial warbands with some very unique figures which can be found on the blog. Also worth a mention as he has been kind enough to give me my own little corner of the blog to show off my own. I'll be adding some work at some stage of my own INQ28 warband so keep an eye out for the future.

Lastly tonight, a piece on whats coming up next week. Mid week i'll be going through my list of current hobby projects and some older ones to give a taste of whats to come from the blog, while on sunday, Games Day UK will be upon us, so expect a report as soon as I can put down the swag and sort the pictures.

Thanks for reading.

Sunday update.....

Seeing as i've not got much that could be deemed useful to say tonight i'll leave you with pictures of the current state of the army, 2 finished Killa Kans.

If all goes to plan i'll be putting up a tutorial next week.

First the newest Kan.

Next the 2 Kans together.

 Thanks for reading.

A Kan and a question......

I've had a couple of productive evenings so far this week and in the process managed to get the first of 9 Killa Kans finished. I say finished but it's not quite there as i've still got the base to do. More on that later.

I've deliberately gone for a very dirty/rusty feel as a bit of a cheat, the paint job is very quick and the weathering covers up a multitude of mistakes. To go from undercoat to the stage in the pictures has taken around 4 hours so far, not that much really when you consider the size. When im a couple of models into the force i'll knock up a tutorial for painting a Kan from start to finish.

The only problem im having at the moment is deciding on what to do with the bases. Previous armies i've done have all ended up being the usual sand/static grass combo seen virtually everywhere and while I think it looks ok, i'd like to try something different with the Orks. If you've got any thoughts i'd love to hear them.

Secondly, this week I was welcomed into the From The Warp blogging community, a hub of some of the best 40k blogs around the web.

To mark this, at least once a week i'll pick a few of my favourite blogs and do a little promo for them. If I read them, surely you should too?

Stahly's Paint Station, one of my favourite blogs at the moment for the sheer amount of great work Stahly posts. Some excellent tutorials on a variety of subjects that are well worth a read no matter what your painting.

A Gentleman's Ones, b.smooth's excellent blog covers a wide range of hobby related goodness, from campaign progress to painting tutorials. Another worthy addition to any blog roll.

Rant in E Minor The (mostly) Eldar related blog of Sorrowshard, a very good friend of mine. While he paints at a snail's pace, his work is some of the best i've seen anywhere in the world. Has quite a love/hate relationship with the Eldar, but is always pushing to see what the book can do. If the big blocks of text don't put you off and you like pointy ears it's well worth a read.

Now to go back and agonize over how to paint the base of the Kan. Might even be time for a cup of tea. Until next time, thanks for reading.

Steve

Some actual progress?

Yes, the title doesn't lie, i've actually made some progress with the Orks.

Firstly, the second Big Mek has been assembled. I would of had him finished about a week ago but it took me that long to get scratch build the Kuston Force Field. Very pleased with him though, the pose in particular im quite proud of, almost like hes stomping over to a downed vehicle, ready to carve it up with his trusty burna.....

Next up today is the first ten of forty grots in the force, im aiming to paint these alternately with the Kans so I don't get too bored.

Lastly tonight, i've made a start on the first Kan. Going for a simple Goff scheme for the force, using lots of weathered black with red details and lots of black and white checks. Since this was taken i've basecoated the horns and given the whole thing a generous wash of Devlan Mud. After some quick highlights and details it should be done.

If all goes to plan over the next day or so I should have an update friday with the first of the finished Kan.

Thanks for reading.

Enter the Orks.....

Bit too long between the first post and now, I should really try to sort that out.

Anyway, on to the first 'proper' post of the blog, with some pictures to boot.


My current project is an Ork 'Dread Mob', which can be created using either the Ork codex or Forge World's Imperial Armour Vol 8. Either list lets you take Deff Dreads as Troop choices, so long as a Big Mek is taken as a HQ choice.

So im going to take two meks, and have my basic troop choices filled by Dreadnoughts. Nice.


First up, the currently un-named Mek 1. Im using the Nobz box set to build my Big Meks, the metal Mek figures, although some of the nicest figs in the Ork range, are a little too small to be leading an army. The Kustom Force Field has been lifted from a metal Mek though, and the Burna is from the Lootas and Burnas sprue. A plasticard welding mask finishes him off.

Next, the 2 troop choice Deff Dreads. These have had magnets in the arm sockets so the arms can be safely removed for transport. Speaking of transport, go and check out Battlefoam, they make some of the best cases and foam i've ever come across. Im hoping to get close to 2000 points of Orks into a PACK 432 case, which is only going to be made possible with having the arms magnetised.

The Scorcha arms are from the Killa Kan box as I think it balances the model better than having a single weapon attached to the body without an arm. Also, the regular exhausts have been swapped for more subtle ones made from plastic tube.

Lastly for this post, the first of the Killa Kan mobs. I love these models, loads of character and an absolute joy to put together. Again these have had magnets in the arms sockets for transport. I've used the rokkit launcher from the Deff Dread kit on these to deliberately unbalance them. A nod to the old metal Kans, and one that reinforces the fact that Grots are piloting them.

Thats all for now, the next post should have an update on the second of the Big Meks, possibly even some more Killa Kans.