Lelith Hesperax: I had to paint one Dark Eldar model.

Today, I'm showing you the Lelith Hesperax model that I painted up a couple weeks ago.  I had been wanting to give a new Dark Eldar model a paintjob.  I knew from the moment of release this wouldn't be an army that I wanted to paint an entire force of.  When one of my friends decided to start the Dark Eldar, I picked up this model and put some paint to it as a gift.  I'll probably do a couple more characters for him, as it was a definite change of style needed than anything I had ever painted previously.  This model is tiny when you start painting it.  And line highlighting neatly is very difficult for me.  I feel it looks a little better in real life and am still bothered with photographing minis.  It is a very hard thing to do well.  

I was also enticed by a painting competition that was going to be held over at Spiky Bits.  So, I ordered the model and put a couple hours of time into it, then more time photographing.  Finally, I was pretty happy with it and sent it in to the competition.  As you can see in this link apparently my entry was lost.  This is pretty upsetting as I feel I had a chance to finish in the top three.  I couldn't have won the thing, but it would have been nice to get some votes.  Either way, I now need to send this off to my friend so this chick can kick some faces in on the tabletop.

There are some more pics below.  Check them out and see what you think.  I do wish they were part of the competition I entered, but whatever.

"Hobby List of the Week": Nightlords Jump List

This week I'm gonna post some more Chaos stuff as they are the awesome.  This is a Nightlords list that I have mostly built.  However, this list uses the Blood Angels Codex to fit the theme of fast raiding Nightlords.  Above is my version of Dante, who will lead the army.  I am working on getting the parts to convert up the unit of Sanguinary Guard in the same style, all with Possessed wings.  

My outlook on the Nightlords gives me the impression that they would just fall from the sky under cover of darkness, all the while yelling obscenities and smashing right into the enemy.  They are very stealthy and do lightning fast raiding then withdraw.  The Blood Angels allows this perfectly.  They can have all jump infantry as troops and with Descent of Angels can take a few risk getting close on the drop.  Check out the list:

Dante

Sanguinor

Sanguinary Guard x 5 - 1 with Banner, 1 with powerfist, 3 with infernus pistols

Sanguinary Priests x 3 - All 3 have jumppacks - 1 with powerweapon & hand flamer - 1 with powersword - 1 with powerfist

Assault Squad x 10 - 2 with meltaguns - Srg with powerweapon

Assault Squad x 10 - 2 with flamers - Srg with pair of lightning claws

Assault Squad x 10 - 2 with meltaguns - Srg with powerfist

Assault Squad x 10 - 2 with plasma pistols - Srg with powerweapon & plasmapistol

2,000 pts

50 models

10 killpoints 

5 scoring units

I have already built the 40 raptors that I am using as Assault marines for this army.  In fact, I built these during 3rd edition when the Chaos codex had special rules for Nightlords players allowing this many.  I swapped a couple special weapons, but otherwise they are the same as before.  I have also converted a Sanguinor and Dante from Possessed parts and will do the same for the Sanguinary Guard and probably same for priest with modifications.  I think all of these are easily recognizable as their Blood Angel counterparts and should have little bearing on gameplay with most opponents.

For this list I chose a couple of high points costs HQs.  I know I could swap Sanguinor for another whole unit of raptors but that would require 10 more models and money.  Plus he is pretty awesome and if anything will give something to soak wounds for army since they drop and sit for a turn.  I took a fair amount of special weapons and with some good drops should be able to knock down a few tanks or key enemy units initially.  Dante will drop with Sanguinary Guard and infernus pistols to pretty much guarantee dead target on drop.  The priests will be split up around the army to offer their services of course.  Pretty much the plan is drop as much stuff in the opponents face as possible, then weather the storm and hopefully have enough left to finish the job.  If not, whatever, it's a game and this style will offer a great story at least.

I obviously like this list as I am currently building it, so let me know what you think.  And I know just another jump army, but at least it's Chaos and not a bunch of followers of the False Emperor.

"Hobby List of the Week": Iron Warriors

For this week's Hobby list I'm heading back in the Chaos direction, but this time actually using the Chaos Codex.  Also, this week I am trying to come up with a format for this weekly post that makes sense instead of my usual ramblings.  I am trying to use the following "template" when posting these.

Introduction
Fluff Thoughts/Considerations
Army List
Conversion/Modelling Ideas
Tactical Thoughts/Ideas
Closing

This week I'm going with an Iron Warriors theme.  I feel like the Iron Warriors should carry weapons that will bust aside heavy fortifications.  This means meltas up close and lascannons from afar, but also with flamers to clear bunkers and the like.  This gives a variety of options, so more modelling possibilities.  I also think they should have very advanced technology that is augmented by service to Chaos.  This means bionics, custom force fields, Obliterators, etc.  On with the list:

Fabius Bile

Dreadnought with twin-linked lascannons, missile launcher and extra armor

Chaos Terminators x4 - Combi-melta/Powerfist, Combi-melta/Power weapon, Heavy Flamer/Chainfist,     Combi-bolter/Power weapon - All with Mark of Tzeentch
Dedicated Transport - Land Raider with extra armour for termies and Fabius Bile

CSM x10 - Champ with Powerfist/meltabombs, Plasmagun, Lascannon, Icon of Chaos Glory-Fabius Bile Enhancements
Dedicated Transport - Rhino

CSM x 10 - Champ with Powerfist/meltabombs, 2 meltaguns, Icon of Chaos Glory-Fabius Bile Enhancements
Dedicated Transport - Rhino

Lesser Daemons x 10

Predator - Twin linked lascannons, Lascannon sponsons, extra armor

Vindicator - extra armor

Obliterators x 3

2,000 pts
44 models
3 scoring units
12 killpoints

Okay, so some of those were obvious choices for Iron Warriors, i.e. the Dreadnought, Predator, Land Raider, Vindicator, and Obliterators.  I chose Fabius Bile as I think his enhancements could be modelled as "tech enhancements" that augments the squads abilities, instead of "organic enhancements".  I would also convert some sort of tech priest gone Chaos like fellow to represent Fabius Bile.  Also I gave the Terminators the mark of Tzeentch, not because they worship him, but because I think this would show better technology gives better invulnerable save to the termies.  The Lesser Daemons were the last part of the modelling to show technology.  These could all be modelled as Chaos like servitors that are teleported into battle using the Icons(teleport homers) in the units.

This army also wouldn't be terrible on the tabletop.  It is essentially "meched up", with the addition of Oblits and Daemons deepstriking in at some point.  The Vindicator, Predator and Dreadnought hug cover and blast things to pieces.  I also like to use a unit like the plasmagun/lascannon one to park on objectives and blast their weapons from the hatch.  After one turn of movement they have good range and strength to take down high armor targets.  They can also be supported by the daemons if need be.  The other unit rolls out with the Land Raider to get in opponents face and take down targets with melta, fists, etc.  They could also be supported by daemons if they get in trouble and the other unit is in good shape.  Either of these units can be supported by deepstriking Obliterators if you choose to reserve them.  Pretty simple army with tools to deal with anything if used correctly.

If I had to reduce the size of this army I would start by dropping the Predator and maybe an Obliterator or some daemons to get to 1,750 pts.  Going up to 2,500 I would probably add more Termies in a Landraider and try to squeeze in a Summoned Greater Daemon modelled up into some sort of  high tech daemon engine.

Well, theres another list that would be neat to build and play, offering something for the hobbyist and gamer in me.  I love building and converting models and making army lists that fit the fluff of the chosen army.  However, when I play I do not want to lose every game, so my lists never get neutered to the point of pure fluff/theme.  And if I am going to lose, I would rather not lose with the "best list on the internet" because that will get you picked on.

What do you think?  Crappy list and theme or fit okay with the use of Fabius Bile.

"Hobby List of the Week": Biker Boyz

This week I am going to throw out a small Ork list, mainly because I have been very busy and it should be a quick write-up.  I'm sure this exact list has been built and played to death, but it fits my "Hobby List" theme perfectly.  This list is based around the Nob Biker concept, super-low model count(for Orks) and awesome chance for conversions and personality.  I feel that by the time a Nob takes up being part of a biker mob he has collected trophies and earned enough teef that each would have something that sets them apart from the others.  Whether this be a nice gun, trophies, armour, bits and bobs on the bike, whatever.  Well, on with the list.

Nob Biker List

Warboss - Warbike, Power Klaw, Shoota-scorcha, cybork body, eavy armour, bosspole
Warboss - same as above
Nob Bikers x 10 - Painboy with Orderly - All have Cybork bodies - 4 have power klaws - 3 have shoota-scorchas - all have eavy armour - Waagh Banner - Bosspole - 2 with Big Choppas
Nob Bikers x 10 - all same as above but only 2 with shoota-scorchas
Kommandos x 13 - Snikrot - 2 with Burnas

2,000 pts
35 models
5 Killpoints
2 Scoring Units

As far as modelling this list goes. First you would spread around the wargear to help with wound allocation in the list.  This army would need to be heavily converted as there are no real Nob biker models except for a few Forgeworld ones that could be sprinkled in.  Also, converting up and painting some awesome Ork ninjas(Kommandos) would also be fun.  Would be a fun list overall to model up and paint as each model needs character to fit the storyline of the Orks.  And you could probably bash a few skulls with this on the tabletop to.

This list could be played full reserves or start 2 bike squads on table and let the other guy worry about what Snikrot and his boyz will do when they come in behind you.  Turboboost first turn to a flank and second turn start chewing the other guy up in combat.  Hopefully, you will be able to multi-charge units where possible, because you don't want to own the unit in your turn and get rapid fired on by an entire army in the next.  With the klaws and furious charge you should be able to give the razorback and chimera parking lots a bit of worry, well if they didn't shoot down most of your army first turn.  Of course just a few nobs and a warboss are pretty bad news if all you have in the tanks are 5 man marine squads and guardsmen.  I like how this list just gives two "hard as nails" targets on the board and another scary unit coming in behind the opponent's army.  The bikers should be in combat by turn 2 and the Kommandos are just there to support the side that takes the most punishment early game.

Well, hope you see where I will continue to head with this "Hobby List of the Week" thing.  I am trying to think of a semi-template to help control my ramblings.

Chaos Lord on Juggernaut Conversion #3

Here is the last of my three Chaos Lords on Juggernauts.  This guy is armed with Wolf Claw, Storm Shield and usual.  Again I built up the base to give the "unit" a cohesive look.  Now for the bitz used in this one if you care.

Legs are plastic Khorne Berzerker

Torso is FW Khorne Berzerker

Head is also FW Khorne Berzerker

Backpack is CSM

Right arm is Raptor Lightning Claw arm

Left arm is CSM bolter arm

Shield is Fantasy Warriors of Chaos

Left Shoulderpad is FW Khorne Berzerker

So not as many different parts as last.

Another short post today.  I hope tomorrow to get up my new list for my new series "Hobby List of the Week" that I started last week.

Chaos Lord on Juggernaut Conversion #2

Here is the second of my Chaos lord on Juggernaut conversions.  This fella is armed with a Frost Blade and Storm Shield, plus extra goodies I don't remember because they are not modeled.  Again I built up the base with cork tiles to give a little more intimidating stance to the model.  To be honest this is my least favorite of the three for some reason. 

This model also has a collection of parts from many ranges listed below:

Legs are CSM

Torso front is also CSM

Torso back is from older Space Wolf sprue

Shield is from Fantasy Warriors of Chaos as the other

Head is Khorne Berzerker

Backpack is CSM

Chain is from Wal-mart

Loincloth(chain?) is from CSM

Shoulderpad is Khorne Berzerker plastic

Left arm is CSM bolter arm

Right arm is Fantasy Marauder arm

Frost Blade is bit from Be'lakor the Fantasy Daemon Prince(you used to be able to bit order awesome bitz like this, so I've had it for a while)

I think that is all the bitz used in construction.  I am very poor in the Green Stuff Fu department so most of my conversions are really just kit bashes that I try to blend together to make a cohesive looking figure.  There are a couple more views below.

Well, there you go a quicker post than my usual ramblings.  I'll get the third guy up tomorrow with a group shot and the Chaos Fenrisian Wolves I'm using.

Chaos Lord on Juggernaut Conversion #1

Okay, this is the first of three Chaos Lords I have converted on Juggernauts.  These will be used as Wolf Lords on Thunderwolves of course.  I have had these built for a while and Black Matt over at Black Matt's Black Legion Blog had posted a few pics of my stuff including some of these.  Since then I have found some small chain at the trusty Wal-mart and added this.  These are built to simulate riding a bull standing up(yeah no easy cover saves with these, oops).  The real purpose is that I can now just pop these off(they're only pinned with no glue) and use them on normal bases as Chaos Lords, well and I am a little lazy and didn't want to source proper legs for sitting, sculpting saddle, etc.  

This first one is armed with a Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield and the usual goodies.  He is built with parts from several ranges of GW minis.  The hammer is from Ogre Kingdoms, the shield is a Fantasy Chaos warrior one, the backpack is old school CSM, the right arm is old school Possessed arm(muscled to handle weight of hammer), wolf pelt from older Space Wolves set, head is Fantasy Chaos Warrior, chain tabbard is Chaos Terminator Lord kit, legs are from Khorne Berzerker kit, shoulderpads are Forgeworld Khorne Berzerkers, and that's about all I remember.  I wanted to make the bases on these more dramatic using some cork tile and old Rhino door.  This gives him a very aggressive pose which I like.  This is the most feral and menacing looking one I made and probably my favorite of the three(two of which I will be posting later this week).  Below are a couple more views.

 

Well, that's the first one of the three.  I'll have the others up in the next couple days.  I hope you like it, even if the standing pose is a little ridiculous and over the top.

"Hobby List of the Week": Introduction

Forgeworld Berzerkers with Landraider

One of my favorite parts of the hobby is to write up lists.  I am always scheming some kind of list from various army books depending on which Codex I am reading at the time.  I always buy every codex and army book for 40k and Fantasy and read each cover to cover.  While I don't always have time to sit down and build/paint models, I do usually spend 15-30 minutes reading each night before bed.

Where I differ as more of a hobbyist than gamer is that I like to write up lists that fit what I have read, not what will kick butt on the table(though I want some nuts in my list because I don't like to lose every time I play either).  I enjoy making lists and building a cool looking army to fit the "theme" that I am going for.  I have stacks of lists written and not all get built of course.  I thought I would start a weekly post showing these lists that I am always writing up.  I will just call this "Hobby" instead of "Theme" because I want to show lists that would be fun to build  and offer lots of conversion for hobby minded gamers.  "Theme" lists get thrown around a lot nowadays and not everyone's idea of a theme list is the same as mine(like 34 plasmaguns in IG army is NOT a theme list to me).  Below I will show a list I came up with to introduce what I will try to put across each week.  I plan on showing a list and giving some ideas for the conversions/model choice and fluff aspects of said list.  I am shooting for 2,000 pt lists each week and will give ideas on what to trim or add to change the size of the army.

The first one I will start with is a Khorne-themed and modeled Chaos army, but using the Blood Angels Codex.  The list will show why I think this codex choice is appropriate.

HQ
Astorath the Grim
     Use the Astorath model for this shaving BA symbols.  This model is Chaos looking and opens up the Death Company to more than 0-1.

Reclusiarch - plasma pistol - meltabombs
     Use the Kharn the Betrayer model for this.  He will add some hitting power and rerolls on everything for the Death Company unit he joins.

Elites
Sanguinary Priest - Terminator Armor
     For this use the Forgeworld Lord Zhufor model, which looks sweet.  Give Feel No Pain and Furious Charge to Terminator unit.

Assault Termies x7 - 6 with Lightning Claws - 1 with Thunderhammer & SS(maybe 5 to 2, not sure)
     Dedicated Transport - Land Raider Crusader - Multimelta
          This unit would be converted using Chaos Termies and Forgeworld Khorne Termie Torsos and the Landraider would be a Space marine Crusader with Chaos bits and Forgeworld doors.

Troops
Death Company x 8 - 1 with powerweapon, 1 with powerfist
     Dedicated Transport - Land Raider Redeemer - multimelta
         This unit would be converted with CSM and the Forgeworld World Eater Torso set.  Landraider converted like above.  Also uses Khorne's lucky number of eight in the unit.

Death Company x 8 - 1 with powerweapon, 1 with powerfist
     Dedicated Transport - LandRaider
          Same modelling as above.

2,000 pts
10 Killpoints
30 models
0 Scoring Units

Okay, so that's the small model count, no scoring unit, triple landraider rush list.  Yes it will probably get crushed every game played in your head where every opponent is packing a Leafblower style IG list.  Okay, realistically in normal gaming environments with your friends, this would be a very fun list to run.  And with such a low model count you can go crazy with all Forgeworld stuff, detailed paintwork or other nice conversions.  The Blood Angels Codex fits the Khorne theme very nicely and the ruleset makes these guys crazy bloodthirsty killers, which is what you should be going for in a Khorne-oriented army.

I will flesh out this "Hobby List" idea more in the coming weeks with a wide variety of lists from several codexes.  This was just a quick rundown of some of the ideas I have in store for this weekly posts.

How do you feel about building armies, would you rather build a super-competitive army that crushes all the teenagers at the FLGS or build a sweet looking, low model count list that puts every part of the hobby to the test.  Personally, this is one of my favorite list from those I have written, as it would look awesome on the table, and each model could get extra attention.  KILL, MAIM, BURN.

Selling Reminder: 40k & Fantasy on Ebay

Thought I would put up a quick post to my items I am currently selling on Ebay.  The auctions include a Wood Elf Fantasy army and lots of 40k.  The 40k stuff is mostly just single miniatures and characters from the Daemonhunter, Imperial Guard and IG range.  Check out the link at http://shop.ebay.com/ctreleheb/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1 .  At this point most of it is down to a couple days left on the auction.

I'll get back to the real hobby posts soon.  I have been spending most of my hobby time on one big project that will be making its way here soon as a series of articles.