Urban Ruins 40K Terrain

It has been over 4 years since I last built terrain. Moving to a flat with less space, I had to “give away” my thematic gaming boards and several terrain features. I decided to go with battle mats, and consequently I needed to build new terrain.

I bought a wonderful battle mat from “deep cut studios”. I redid two of my previous buling and decide to build new terrain from the GW range and scratch building pieces from my bit box (including making use of Forge World Pieces).

This project has taken over two moths to complete. Enough said, here are some pictures of the new terrain features.

Regards,
Ørnulv

Armiger Helverins - Imperial Knights – House Hawkshroud

Once I got hold of the new Imperial Knight Codex, I just knew I had to get a couple of them. During this summer I had an extra-long vacation, with time to build and paint them. A very nice set indeed. Here are some pictures taken during assembly.

It is always a little bit tricky achieving the same colours as on models made several years ago (2015). Trying to mach the same colour pallet and markings, I think they blend in with the rest of my knights. I see now that I have forgotten to put on the Heavy Stubbers / Melta Guns when taking these photos (I magnetized all of them).

I have already tried them (one of them) together with my other knights. I think they would do better when they team up, so I will try to reconfigure my list, so I can fit them both into my list.

Cheers,
Ørnulv

Drukhari – Dark Eldar Archon and another Succubus

Getting ready for the upcoming team event in September, I found myself short of some WYSIWYG HQ-options for my army.

I did not have time to wait for a shipment from GW (UK). And since I already have built and painted the standard Archon and Succubi models, I decided that variety was the way to go. Hence, I dived into the “bit box” once more…

I found that the body that I usually have used with heavy weapons had an ok pose and decided to add some “extra bling” trying to create an Archon with a unique look. This is how he turned out.

Unfortunately, I was out of parts from the Wych kits. Crises! Hmmm…. But, I did have left over´s from the Venom kits. The trick (for me anyway) was how to fit a model designed to hang outside a vehicle to a normal base, and to make a close combat weapon that could pass as an Archite glaive. A left-over part from the old city kits solved the first problem, and by combining two different “spears” I made a what I think will be accepted as an Archite glaive.

Looking forward to trying them out on the battlefield.

Cheers,

Ørnulv

Space Wolves Razorbacks (and some other additions)

I have helped Trond out with preparing his beloved Space Wolves army for an upcoming team event in September. I have taken the liberty of posting a few pictures on he´s behalf. 

I find the colour pallet of the Space Wolves striking and very cool looking! Trond wanted some high output and strong “dakka” for his army and decided to include two Razorback´s in his army. They where to be armed with Twin Linked Assault cannons. Unfortunately the shipping from Forge World was delayed. However, you never go wrong building the Twin Lascannon turrets for some options, and they will “count as” Assault cannon turrets in the team event in September.

Strengthening the infantry units, he also added a Wolf Gard Terminator Pack Leader armed with Frost claws.

Finally, two battle brothers where re-armed with Plasma guns.

Looking forward to facing them on the battle field.

Cheers,

Ørnulv and Trond

Dark Eldar Succubus, some Kabalite Warriors and an Archon upgrade

It’s been a while since I worked on my Dark Eldar army (2016). Having been occupied with my Ultramarines, upgrading my Tyranids and Imperial Knight army. I have started a project trying also to bring my Dark Eldar up to speed with the new Codex.

First out was adding a new Succubus to my army. A very beautiful, but very small and fragile model. I tried to paint her like the rest of my Wyches. It was difficult to mimic the pallet that I used back in 2011/2012, especially since the paints iI used for the skin tones back then are discontinued. But on the table, she blends in OK, I guess.

Not using her in a main army detachment, I wanted to keep her at a low point cost and went with an Archite Glaive and Splinter Pistol. Enough said, this is how she turned out.

Succubus

In this version of the Codex the unit champions are a standard “upgrade” that comes free with the unit. To single them out, I have used my "Trueborn" (Kabalite Warriors without helmet), but I needed 2 more to have one distinct "Sybarite" to go with each unit. I had 5 Kabalite Warriors lying around in my bit box and decided to make the 2 Sybarites I was short from them.   

When I built the army, back in 2011/2012, I focused on Splinter Rifles (of course), Blasters, Dark Lances and Splinter Cannons for my Kabalite Warriors. Since the "Shredder" has become better and more point cost effective, for variety, I decided to arm the remaining three Kabalite models with Shredders. This is how they turned out:

Kabalite Warriors

I have several Archon models; one converted from a Kabalite Warrior and two converted based on the old Finecast model. Originally one of my Archons was kited out with an Agoniser. Since both the Huskblade and Venomblade in this Codex are very point cost effective, I wanted to re-arm him. But since the arms are so fragile I did not dear to use magnets. I therefore used a close combat weapon that could pass both as a Huskblade and as a Venomblade. I kept the Blaster (can be taken from the Index). This is how “Little Vect” turned out.

Archon

More to come soon. Cheers

Ørnulv 

Ultramarines – new Captain and Lieutenant (and upgrading Sergeant’s – again)

As I move forward with 8^th edition, I am working on trying to improve my Ultramarines army. 

In a previous post I showed pictures of upgrading two old Sergeant models packing Power Swords with Combi plasma. The goal (of course) was to give them some more hitting power in close combat. I tried them out, but being only S4 with A2, I did not find them very effective. Reading the new Codex (again) I realized that Tactical Sergeants can pack a Chain Sword (for free) together with a Bolt pistol and Bolt gun. I decided to go with that combination. I had a couple of old style Sergeants I decided to upgrade with Combi Plasma, and at the same time decided to gett rid of the banners and to change the heads to match the rest of my army.

My old style Sergeants

Conversions in progress

Exploring variants of HQ options, I decided to build a new Captain. Fortunately I had an old version in my bit box (Black reach), so I decided to work with that one. It had been used as a test model for Army painter’s foundation spray, so I had to clean it before starting to convert it. I decided to go with Combi Plasma and a Power Maul (a lot of work went into this model). 

My new Captain

I have wanted to test how a Lieutenant would work in my list. I decided to use a Sternguard Veteran to represent a Lieutenant. I wanted some bling, but not too much, deciding not to go with the veteran shoulder guards and veteran helmet. Also her I decided to go with Combi Plasma and a Power maul. For the time being I have to use a Power maul from the old Fantasy range. I hope that someone can help me finding a proper version (it is just way to big…). 

My first Lieutenant

Upgraded Sergeants

I am eager to test the new HQ units at an upcoming TSB gaming event, and happy that my ordinary Sergeants now get A3 in close combat.

Cheers,

Ørnulv    

Roy´s Necrons – Cryptek

How could I help Roy construct an army who can field that many warriors backed by a Lord and a Cryptek, knowing the synergies they confer to his army?

Anyway, Roy´s first 2000p army is now completed, with this cool looking model. Congratulations Roy – looking forward (or not) to meet a Gauss gun line from hell.


Cheers,

Ørnulv

Roy´s Necrons – Death Marks

I just hate those guys…

Cheers,

Ørnulv

Roy´s Necrons – Warriors phalanx completed

With this batch of 12 more Necrons Warriors, this part of Roy´s army is now finished. Roy can now field 48 of them… giving the rest of us a Gauss headache...

Cheers,

Ørnulv

Ultramarines – Upgrading Sergeants

As we all know close combat is at the core of 8^th edition, and I have found it necessary to give my Tactical Sergeants some close combat punch.

I could not find myself changing my normal “combi-weapon” sergeants, so I dived into my Ultramarines Vault and polled out a couple of old models to work on instead.

I removed the banners, changed one weapon arm, changed the heads to helmets, and gave them both Combi-plasma (keeping the Power swords). In the old days I added “scripts” to the cloth. This is not in tune with my newer versions, so I decided to repaint them also.

While I was at it, I also added “Devastator backpacks” to two of my Devastator Sergeants, and gave them helmets while I was at it.

Cheers,

Ørnulv

Ørnulv´s 2017 in review – looking forwards…

A little late, but still.

I only completed a handful of my goals set for 2017. A heavy workload, and hobby fatigue caused by that I took on to much work when the team prepared for the Adepticon Event, being the main reasons.

So what did, or did I not, accomplish?

Gaming; I did manage to host 4 gaming events; two at home and two at my summerhouse. Great fun. I also attended the Adepticon Friendly Tournament, and the Adepticon Team Tournament. As always, good fun with good friends. I really enjoyed the Friendly Tournament witch I attended for the first time. Trond also attended. I was about to pack my army when Trond scouted my name out loud, I did not get it first, but I won the tournament. Double the fun! Getting closer to the end of the year, I got a couple of games in, struggling with adapting to 8^th edition. I hope I will be getting there during 2018…

I did not manage to do any work on my Ultramarines 1. Company. Sad. During 2016 I almost built and primed all the models I need to finish my quest. I have to do better in 2018. However, I did manage to finish:

- One unit of 5 Devastators with 4 Graviton Cannons
- One unit of 5 Sternguard Veterans
- One Drop Pod kited out to carry a Dreadnought
- A Captain in Cataphractii Terminator Armour
- Two marines packing Graviton weapons

...all of them fielded at Adepticon.

Well, not very impressive, when looking at my normal output per year. However, I did have the pleasure of helping two of my teammates finish and adjusting their own armies in preparation for Adepticon, and to lend a hand to our newest team member with his brand new Necron Army.

So what about 2018? First and foremost I would like to play more games, and play at least 4 games a month. So far in 2018 I have played 5 games, so I am on the right track. I really need to get a grip on 8^th addition, with all three of my army’s… I have also scheduled 3 team events so fare.  And I would like to attend gaming events in Nottingham during this autumn.

I will continue to work on my Ultramarines and Tyranids, trying to make my take on them work. I will also adjust my dark Eldar army when the Codex finally comes...


Cheers,

Ørnulv

Linus' 2017 in review - looking forwards...

Not much done hobby wise last year. May the next be more than a small step forwards.

Lots of Raven Guard models and vehicles are basecoated and air brushed with zenital highlighting, thus waiting for the next painting strokes and completion. 

Then there are all the new and lovely Death Guard models standing idle on the assembly line, not at least the lovelydisgusting Mortarion model, as well as the Mechanicum project I was so eager to kick start a couple of years ago.

So my goals for 2018 are as follows:

• April: Set up the two hobby stations – one for modelling and painting in our new hobby/home cinema room and the other for airbrushing in the new isolated room in the back of the garage. (See right)
• Paint and complete some Raven Guard squads.
• Assemble and paint Mortarion and some addons to the Death Guard.
• Learn the rules!
• Get up to date with the Horus Heresy novels series, starting with Angels of Caliban (#38) in a week.
• Attend all TS gaming events.
• Arrange one gaming event in Old Pocket Valley.

Good luck and good night...

Jørn's 2017 in review

Forgive me, readers, for I have sinned.

It's been more than eight months since my last confession, and I can't even claim it's because I've been busy building and painting. Well... Not miniatures, anyway.

I have managed to get a couple of games in a month, on average, since we came back from Adepticon, so I’ve come far closer to my goal of 40 games of 40K a year this year than in the past two.

I have managed to build and prepare a few models for paint this fall, and really want to get a start on some of those soon...

So what's kept me from making any hobby-progress wort posting about? A couple of factors seems to have kept my 'hobby engine' in idle. First, the build-up and preparations to Adepticon were pretty intense, leaving me a little burned out. Second, the announcement of 40K 8th put a stop to pretty much all plans made with a 7th ed. perspective. When 8th did arrive, and we actually got around to rolling dice again, playing with units that were ready to go took priority over getting new ones on the table.

Revisiting Adepticon 2017 for a moment... It was an absolute blast of an event!!! It takes an investment of a full week off work and a lot of disposable income to make it happen, but if you can make that investment it’s an experience quite unlike anything we’ve found on this side of the Pond. We're not going back in 2018, but we will probably make the pilgrimage again at a future date. In the meantime, we'll see about getting to a few events in Europe this year. It's been a while since we went to Nottingham last. We do love team- and doubles-events so any tips regarding anything like that would be very welcome...

I set myself a couple of rather open-ended goals last year, yet I only managed to complete one: Getting my Crimson Fists army ready for the Team Tournament and the Long War Doubles at Adepticon. The Word Bearers never got much attention, apart from being the only army I've played with after 8th ed. was released. The rapid rules-changes/-updates since 8th's release have been a significant factor here. Hopefully, we won't see too many too radical changes going forward. Keeping up with the rules team does take both time and effort.

Goals for 2018 then...

1) Make significant progress on my Word Bearers.
I have... let's just say "a lot" of infantry models ready for paint. I really should get them finished and onto the tabletop. I also have a handful of vehicles that have been built but unprimed since last year (or something), as well as the Superheavy I bought at Adepticon. These need to be made ready and put on the table this year too.

2) Set up, name and host a TSB-event in my new hobby room.
We ‘just’ need to finalize remodelling of the new house, to free the room from its current use. To be continued, I suppose...


JørnN