168 3 Platoon, 2 Section Finished (with freehand)

Greetings.

Well, that's another squad ticked off thanks to TOEMP (see right) - although I've forgotten exactly which TOEMP challenge they were meant to be for now... Ladies and Gents, allow me to present to you the underwhelming and poorly lit 3 Platoon, 2 Section:

Yup - that's it. Here's a pic taken with the camera's flash (note the freehand regimental numbers (24) and aquilas, as noted in my previous post); I decided to keep the weird design on the meltagunner's shoulder:

Here's a detail shot, and in it you can see the squad ID flash on the rear of the base (these are a tremendous help on the 'battlefield') as well as the old varnish on the sergeant and vox (they were both previously in other platoons):

By the way...

I have now officially had enough of Purity Seal, to the point whereby I scarcely varnish anything plastic any more. I've heard great things, though, about Testor's Dullcoat. Anyone care to comment? I know I've moaned before about wanting all my guardsmen to look the same, but that time has passed, not least because of my recent freehanding...

Cheers,

- Drax.

167 Trying Freehand Details

Well hello!

I've almost finished my next batch of Guardsmen (3Pl, 2Section - with a meltagunner generously donated by Col. Corbane) and because (a) I'm starting to run low on transfers and (b) I have to cut out tiny, fiddly digits to make the regimental number, I decided to try it free hand.

After a slightly shaky start, I'm actually quite pleased with the majority of them:

Yes that's right - the two with proper bases are actual transfers. Sorry for the quality of the light - I didn't want to wait 'til tomorrow.

I'll also be doing the aquilas on the right shoulders, as that worked out well with the last squad:

Thanks for your support in my painting exploits so far, gang: it's always really appreciated!

- Drax.

165 Leman Russ Annihilator Finished

TOEMP Challenge 5 est fini!

Here is the first of my two Leman Russ Annihilators. I don't think I have a name for it yet; I guess I'm awaiting the Emperor's divine inspiration. That said, feel free to make suggestions:

As I tend to with my vehicles, I've left elements of its old (eBay) paint scheme on - it was very...er...yellow.

I haven't taken an awful lot of trouble over it: I wanted it done, and much of the detail is obscured from the old paint job.

All names gratefully considered - my others, for reference - can be seen here.

- Drax.

163 Lascannon Sentinel Finished At Last!

Here you go, then: it's a while since I got anything painted!

Actually, I might touch up a couple of bits - like some DA Green around the edges of the transfer - but she's pretty much finished...the first of my A/P lascannon sentinels, Hope:

For more details of Hope's history, see the post for her sister sentinel, Faith, here.

It ain't flawless, but I'm very pleased with how my ability to paint freehand nose-art is progressing (especially compared to that on Faith, which was my first ever freehand attempt):

Two other angles:

If you look very very carefully, you may even be able to spot some traces of her old black-on-olive disruption camouflage. I often like to keep certain of these such details to retain a bit of history in my models.

Thank The Emporer - at last some progress on painting. Woo-hoo!

More very soon,

Cheers,

- Drax.

155 TOEMP 4: Limited Success.

Hey, All.

Just a quickie to say that I'll be pretty much playing my TOEMP 'joker' this week - though I honestly didn't think I'd need to. Bugger.

I've been working a lot at night, preparing new teaching resources into the wee hours, so painting's been tricky, and although I've got a fair bit done, there's only one thing complete - an objective marker for my mate Mike the Merciless, with whom I'll be entering the Calneage tournament in Wiltshire, on the weekend after next. Thanks to all those of you who offered him tips in the wake of my last post, and here's the obj-marker I made him:

Even though it's a poxy old marine model, I did very little with the 'pose' and I'm unconvinced by the arm bones and bloodstain (of course, it all looks better in real life, sans flash), I'm actually pleased with this, as it's the first model on which I've ever done edged highlights (or whatever they're called). 'Twas fun to paint in Mike's scheme, but vanilla marine models make Cadian guardsmen into an exciting painting prospect!

I've not been idle otherwise, though! Other things I've done include:

-- Converting three chimera turrets into WYSIWYG multilaser turrets;

-- Basecoating some more armoured fist troopers;

-- Almost finishing my Nork Deddog conversion, and

-- Almost finishing my last remaining grenade launcher veteran - you can see him on the right:

So yes - I've failed on this TOEMP challenge...

...But at least I still got some painting done against the odds!

I'm also almost entirely ready for Calneage now!

- Drax.

152 Strategic Defence Review - A Look Forward

Hullo, all, and thanks for all your kind comments recently.

A while ago, Col. Corbane asked what my plans were for the future of my Guard army, and in my last post Oni asked how many points I was up to these days. I plan to answer both of these queries as briefly as possible today.

Firstly: expansion of my Imperial Guard has ceased - at least for the foreseeable future. The recent TOEMP challenges (see logo, tight) and the creation of my new painting chart have made me realise that I pretty much have the Guard army I want. I also have no spare cash at all and a sprog on the way.

Funnily enough, the advent of the new codex has had two important effects:

Firstly, it's forced me to reorganise (and rationalise) my forces (from two full companies [one rifle; one support] to one larger, self-supporting 'tactical' company), thus needing fewer models for completion (although I already had all the models I wanted);

Secondly, and partially as a result of the above, it's lowered my army's points total, from 6800-ish to 5250-ish. Plus my ol' baneblade. That's a considerable drop.

As it stands, then, my future intentions are essentially to paint the army I have. Nothing unusual there, I know, but here's the good bit: slow as I am, I'm actually within sight of finishing it!

The "army I have" is essentially what follows (this is up-to-date, by the way):

I also have enough spare odds and sods to make another infantry platoon (and probably another three stormtrooper squads too, if I'm desperate enough!).

And what will the far future hold? Well, I'd like to put together a squadron of valkyries...but that will simply have to wait!

Cheers,

- Drax.

150 Lots of Stuff, Including Armoured Fist and Veterans

Evening, All.

In this post you will find: more options for my hardened veterans and also my second Armoured Fist squad. But before that: yesterday's US-style apple pie (Mrs. Drax is from Chicago):

Yum.

Well, stuff's been quiet on the blogging front, but I've been getting quite a bit of painting done...albeit not nearly so much as I'd hoped. I've just about accumulated the required amount of points for the most recent TOEMP challenge (see logo, right), but sadly not the way I'd planned. I was hoping to finish the Armoured Fist squad in addition to my hardened veterans, but couldn't cobble it all together in time. Plus - of course - I'd completely forgotten that veterans are no longer an Elites choice, which was supposed to be a part of this second challenge.

Plus, only the Vets have had freehand painting on their shoulder pads.

Rats.

Vets first, then, as they're cooler. My lascannon team. I'm unlikely ever to field them, but it's my first attempt at a model lying prone. This was the single most painstaking infantry model I've ever put together (even more so than my lovely mortars):

I'm fairly happy with their faces for once, but I might add some detail to the sighting lens...:

Next, two models old readers will have seen before; brushed-up, based and finished. Unlike the lascannon team, these are some of my original veterans, so they get similar heraldry to the others I completed recently. I like the old sniper conversion:

Finally, the second of my Armoured Fist squads - the first (equally dull) can be seen here:

Boring, eh? - Their pimped ride is chimera number 2 on this post.

Mind you, the Armoured Fist platoon's HQ unit will be far more interesting, and arriving soon, too!

Cheers all, and thanks again to 73rd for his inspiration. Back at work next week (grrr) so I'll have next to no hobby time. Rats.

- Drax.

147 3 Platoon HQ and 1 Section

Well then,

Here are the two units I've finished courtesy of 73rd's TOEMP kick up the backside: HQ Section and 1 Section of 3 Platoon, B Coy, 2/24th Cadian Light Infantry.

Firstly, HQ Section...although I'm not sure which officer to put with them:
or:

The surplus of officers I now have is because with the advent of the new codex I've gone from three rifle platoons and three support (2x heavy weapon; 1x mortar) platoons to three 'tactical' platoons with organic fire support squads. It doesn't really make a blind bit of difference which I field, as all my officers are equipped the same, and until I can afford the new plastics the metal models are staying!

Here's 1 Section:

You'll note in both cases the newer models haven't been varnished (nor will they be, for a while as I'm re-evaluating my varnishing antics) and as such aren't shiny - I had to use the flash.

Thanks for your kind comments in the last post: I'm pretty pleased with those freehand aquilas...though the '24' designation on the other shoulder remains beyond me!

Cheers,

- Drax.

146 First Painting Challenge: Met!

Hooray!

After a uncharacteristically promising start, much encouragement and an equally uncharacteristic feeling of competitiveness, I've managed to complete my first two squads for the TOEMP challenge!

It's just gone midnight, I finished at 0018 BST, Thurs 13th Aug, and here are the ten models that are now finished, completing my two squads. Proof:
Sadly, because it's late and my brother's camping in my garden, I can't get out to the shed to get the rest, so I'll post proper pics tomorrow. In the meantime, these guys'll go to make HQ and 1 Section of 3Pl, B Coy, 2/24th Cadian Light Infantry.

And here's a real departure for me: I painted the aquilas on their right shoulder pads. This is for three reasons: 1) I'm running out of transfers; 2) I can't afford more transfers, and 3) 73rd suggested we ought to be challenging ourselves more, and as I hardly ever do freehand detail I thought I would!

More pics tomorrow, hopefully.

Cheers,

- Drax.

145 A Tale of Even More Painters

Evening.

You may be aware (if not, why not?) that 73rd over at Unforgiven Angels is quite rightly trying to encourage a few of us ne'er-do-well bloggers to get painting with A Tale of Even More Painters, or TOEMP: you'll find more details on the link above.

I, for my sins, have agreed to give it a go.

In a little while, I'll post my (current) Grand Plans for the Cadian 24th, but for now I'll publically announce some of the units my I intend to get painted:

-- 3Pl HQ and 1 Section

-- 3Pl 2 Section

-- 3Pl 3 Section

-- 3Pl Spec Wpn Squad and Mortar Squad B

-- Armoured Fist HQ and 2 Section

-- Baneblade 'Zarathustra'

Now, I'm not under any illusions here: not only am I a painfully slow painter; I've also got to go back to work at the beginning of September, and it'll be extremely busy: I'm taking over another year group (US: grade) in addition to the one I currently have responsibility for, and my department is going to be homeless for a few months whilst they start work on a new building.

And I think 73rd's going for roughly 10-day deadlines. Yeesh! Still, I like a challenge!

Well, my brother's visiting next week, so I thought I'd make a start on 3Pl HQ and 1 Sect. Because I've rearranged my units since the dawn of the new codex, it turns out that I've some figures already painted, hence going for 15 figures in total. Here's a progress shot:

There is - of course - some other stuff that I'm working on it that shot...

Cheers, aye,

- Drax.