Making/Using a Wet Palette and Painting Efficiently

My makeshift paint station

After seeing so many guys painting nice models on their blogs recently, I have become inspired to do more painting.  My painting has been almost non-existent for about 5 years now.  I have amassed great armies of nicely built plastics/metals in this time, but put paint to few.  As most people that are finished with college know, life takes a lot of time, especially with a more than full-time job, wife, 2 year old, 2 month old and a new house to settle into.  With all of this going on I thought painting was impossible for now, so I just keep putting it off.  Until now that is, I have come up with a few things that will maximize my efforts in the time alotted.

First thing I did was to drag out everything I need for painting and put in one large plastic drawer that I have a stack of in my closet.  You can't just leave all this stuff out on a desk with a 2 year old on the loose.  I then primed up a few models to have in the drawer for next up.  I also tried out a Wet Palette, which I will go into more detail below.  After the first session I did during naptime, I painted more models than I had in two years.  This was great inspiration, but also showed me how useful an airbrush would be, while basecoating.  So, as I posted earlier I purchased one and I think it is a great investment for painting armies quickly.

The star of the show was the Wet Palette though.  I don't know why I never used one before in my painting.  It was so easy to make.  I just used an old plastic storage container, putting a 1/4" of water into the bottom and placed a piece of parchment paper into it.  It really was that easy.  Even with all my paints being at least five years old, I was able to keep wet paint for my entire painting session.  I am reviving these paints as I use them now, putting a stainless steel nut into each one and adding a few drops of water mixed with Future Floor wax.

 The wet palette is so effective for many reasons.  For me, I like to use a base color and a lighter shade and just mix up several stages of highlight.  When doing this on the parchment paper I am able to start with a blob of basecoat and mix only one end of this making a line of paint that transitions from dark to light.  Who cares right?  Well an hour later when I have moved on from the jacket of a model to his gunbarrel and my brush slips and spooges his jacket, the paint that I did this with is still completely usable.  I do not have to go back and mix or pull pots, anything.  Even if I don't slip with the brush it is nice to be able to get up and stretch, or get some water, or change a baby diaper at any point during my painting without having to finish this last highlight before my custom mix dries.  The wife appreciates this also, as I don't have to say, "Hold on I gotta finish this highlight before I help you."

My old tile palettes are now a thing of the past.  I doubt I'll ever use them again.  With the wet palette it doesn't matter if I used the paint an hour ago or just pulled it from the pot, it is the same.  I haven't pulled any several hour paint sessions, but for 1-2 hour sessions it has been working great.

Well, I'll stop blabbing about how great I think wet palettes are.  Even ones as simple as the one I made up.  So if you have been hesitant about trying one out, stop and go get one or make one yourself.  You won't regret the few bucks it costs(read free if you just take it from the wife's things like I did).

If you think you don't have time to paint, try a few of those things to help you get more out of your next session.  Here's the quick list:
Get your stuff together in one area or drawer like me for a quick setup and takedown.
If painting models with 90% one color basecoat, get an airbrush to do it quickly, then black out small stuff.
Batch prime models in between other chores for family.
Use a wet palette, seriously, do it.

Trollbloods on my Mind

This past weekend I did a little more painting, making a little progress on my yet unplayed Trollbloods army I posted about last week.  I primed up the remaining models for my 25 pt list and tried out the new airbrush basecoating a Dire Troll Mauler.  Above is a pic of Madrak, an Axer, an Impaler and Fell Caller that are next up in painting, that is if I can keep the brush off the Mauler.  With so little time I am hoping to get one model per weekend painted.  With the scale of these being a bit bigger than I'm used to, things are a little slow.  Not painting in over a year is not helping my speed either.  I am also trying to lower my standards a bit and just try some quick basecoats, couple highlights and plenty of washes to bring everything together.  Below is Alten Ashley.  He took around an hour, some parts I'm really happy(trench coat) and others are just meh(gun stock).

Alten before matte varnish and static grass

Also before matte varnish

Matte varnish is drying, didn't take the time to put in photobox

More post matte varnish, yes I touched the base too early and smeared it, but fixed later.

I am enjoying painting the Privateer Press models more than building them.  I don't like multi-piece metals on the building side of things, though the detail is great.  I'm glad to see more plastics coming out of PP, even if they're all for the Warmachine side of things.  Once I get my 35 pt list painted I hope to start jumping back and forth painting a 40k army while throwing in the odd Trollblood model here and there.  My painting progress should increase when work goes back to 40 hrs, though the overtime is nice.

Next post will talk about how I am just starting to use a wet palette.  Also have some Bloodcrushers coming, so more Chaos conversions are on the way.

I finally bought an airbrush and it's a time-saver already.

I have been debating an airbrush purchase for several weeks now and finally took the plunge.  There were several reasons for wanting to take this step.  First, I have very little hobby time, so any time saved for me would be time gained and more models painted.  Also, after finally painting a few models the other day that started out as predominately one color, I decided it was a must.  Basecoating a model with a brush could take upwards of a half hour while with the airbrush I can basecoat with any color in my collection within minutes.  This was what I would find out after the airbrush arrived.

After much searching of the interwebz for info on all the various brushes available.  I knew from the search that I wanted a double action gravity fed airbrush.  Picking the Paasche Talon was the easy part, the air supply was the hard part.  After much searching I just picked up a kit that included a hobby compressor.  The price was right, though I know it isn't what I would really like.  I figure if I upgrade I can always sell this one.

After ordering and getting in the mail Friday, I finally had a chance to get it together Saturday and play around with it.  While I wanted to use some other models to practice on, I couldn't wait, so just threw down my Dire Troll Mauler that I had just finished building.  I figure to basecoat this model with a brush would take almost an hour.  However, even with putting everything together, practicing on some paper, basecoating the troll and cleaning up, I still had less than an hour in model.  It came out pretty good, I just need to get used to the trigger and get my paint consistency down.  I also need to do more research into cleaning the airbrush properly.  This time I just sprayed Windex through it until clean.

So, there's my first experience with an airbrush.  It was pretty easy just basecoating this model without messing it up.  I think the purchase was well worth it and it will be used a lot in the future.  Any model that is mostly one color will definitely be basecoated with it, then just black out the bits I didn't want that color, which most of us would have to tidy up these with a brush anyways.  I will continue to post my airbrush experiences on here as they happen.  Hope this helps some guys that are on the fence about getting one.

Trollbloods Painted So Far and First List - 25 pts

Lately, I have been wanting to play Hordes more and more.  I have been buying Trollbloods models for a few years now, building them as I get them but never playing.  I owned all of the MKI rulebooks but still never played.  Then a few months ago I ventured into the local comic book store that I don't ever visit.  I don't do comic books, I do miniature wargaming.  However, this time was different there were some guys playing Warmachine.  I started talking to them and a new owner was just starting up selling things like Warmachine/Hordes, Malifaux, etc.  This got me excited so I read all my old books and then bought the MKII when it was released.  Well, the family comes first so I have yet to make it down there during game time on Sundays to learn to play and start in their league.  I have traded for some new models and painted a couple recently.  The Trollkin Champions were painted a couple years back, but the Swamp Gobbers below I did last weekend during naptimes.  When I do get a chance to go I wanna at least have my first list painted if possible.  Hopefully, I don't just get owned and wanna switch list immediately.  Check them out, I'll post list thoughts below.

I really want my list to be a Grim Angus centered list once I learn to play.  Too bad most of the models I own don't do as well with him so I hear.  I really want a more shooty list using something like Grim, Earthborn, Alten, Impaler, Axer, Bushwhackers, Swamp?, and don't know what else.  But for now I have written the below list using pMadrak at 25 pts.

pMadrak+6
Dire Troll Mauler - 9 pts
Troll Axer - 6 pts - free
Troll Impaler - 5 pts
Champions x 5 - 10 pts
Swamp Gobbers - 1 pt

At 35 pts will add
Krielstone Bearer with 5 Scribes - 4 pts
Fell Caller - 3 pts
Alten Ashley - 2 pts

I already have all of these for both lists built, just have to get painting now.  Does anyone think these will be semi-successful early on?  I really don't want to get stomped all the time.

I know this is off the regular 40k path for me, but this is the only game played locally for me to get in on.  I have some 40k projects in the works that I will be posting soon.  I have already painted some and am just waiting on my airbrush setup to arrive in the mail before finishing the rest of the project.  I'll leave you with a quick WIP of this taken with my cellphone camera.  This project will be broken down into several articles, but want to get finished first, so I don't leave it hanging for weeks/months.  Till next time....

Tzeentch CSM vs Blood Angels....er, Nightlords Battle Report - 1,750 pts

This past weekend, my cousin and I decided to try to get in a game during my children’s naptime.  After talking about the game, we both wanted to play a fun game.  He wanted to bring out his seldom used Tzeentch CSM army and I wanted to throw something together from the Blood Angels Codex using the Nightlords models I have built.  We decided on 1,750 pts so we could keep the time down, but big enough to use the models we wanted in this “experimental” game. 

I went through my models and came up with a mixed mech list so I could test which way I wanted steer with the army from here on out.  I’ll probably just end up getting enough for several variant playstyles but at least this sounds good.  Below is a quick rundown of our lists(points probably not exactly right).

Nightlords list using BA Codex

Reclusiarch(Kharn) with 8 Death Company(Khorne Berzerkers) – 1 powerfist all riding in a Landraider

Death Company Dreadnought(FW Nightlords Dread Proxy) with Blood Talons and Heavy Flamer

10 Assault Marines(Raptors) with jump packs, 2 Plasma Pistols and Srg with Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon

10 Assault Marines (Raptors) with jump packs, 2 Meltaguns and Srg with Powerfist

10 Assault Marines(Nightlord CSM) in rhino, 2 flamers, and Srg with powerfist, combi-flamer

10 Assault Marines(Nightlord CSM) in rhino, 2 plasmaguns and Srg with power weapon, plasma pistol

So a little mech, a little deepstrike trials, and a semi-hammer unit in landraider, and the DC Dread for Schlitzengiggles.  I later learned that I should have taken some Sanguinary Priests.

Tzeentch-themed list using CSM Codex

Daemon Prince with wings, Mark of Tzeentch, Warptime, and Bolt of Change

Chaos Dreadnought with twin-linked lascannons and heavy flamer

3 Obliterators

8 Thousand Sons plus Sorcerer with Bolt of Change with Icon in Rhino

8 Thousand Sons plus Sorcerer with Bolt of Change with Icon in Rhino

10 CSM with Icon of Tzeentch, 2 Meltaguns, Aspiring champ with powerfist in Rhino

10 CSM with Icon of Tzeentch, 2 Meltaguns, Aspiring champ with powerfist in Rhino

So plenty of meched up invulnerable save wearing dustbunnies, with a prince, dread and oblits thrown in to make up for weaknesses.

As naptime neared we went and picked up my table from mother-in-laws and got it setup on top of the kitchen table and began to setup while nap was happening.  We rolled a Seize Ground mission with 4 Objectives using Spearhead deployment.  We set up the objectives pretty much in each quarter. 

Setup of my units

Closeup of the CSM Setup

He won the roll-off for first turn and setup everything save the oblits that he would deepstrike later.  He set up a rhino full of CSM on his nearest objective, and stacked most stuff near center table to circle around right side of building in center toward 2 objectives nearest me. 

I set up everything except my jumppack squads.  I put a rhino with the plasmaguns on my nearest objective and parked the other beside to head toward the one he had stacked.  I sent the death company toward his weak side, hoping they could handle themselves while the jumppacks would support his heavy side.  The DC Dread hid behind one of the rhinos.

Even though this was an objective mission I rolled for seize and actually got it.  I wanted this army to try to get the upper hand early.

Turn 1

Game begins and I move forward everything, save the rhino with plasmagun guys camped on objective.  I fire a lascannon from landraider and wound the daemon prince.  Short turn for me but I’m almost there already.

CSM turn, he moves a few things around whiffs all shooting with Bolt of Change and his dread.

Turn 2

This turn I roll in both deepstriking assault squads.  Descent of Angels makes this proposition a lot more reliable getting meltaguns up close.  I strike one behind his rhino camped on objective, using the plasma pistols to shake it.  The other dropped in close to 2 full rhinos, wrecking one with the meltaguns.  The dread is still walking and running forward.  This turn the landraider would be in assault range of daemon prince so I charge forward disgorging the raging lunatics.  Reclusiarch causes 2 unsaved wounds, while the regular death company throw out 17 wounds from 7 guys.  This was pretty awesome to see against a T5 model.  They would be insane against anything normal.  The powerfist guy was pissed as he just stood around powering up for nothing.

The CSM this turn decide to disembark everybody and take down as many as possible before I could charge next turn.  A Thousand Sons unit shoot down 3 of the deathcompany.  While the two CSM units shoot down 2 raptors from each squad.  The second Thousand Sons unit kills the remaining 8 raptors in the melta unit.  He then begins assault, charging my Landraider with Dread, whiffing.  Also he charged my remaining raptor unit with a CSM unit, killing some though units stay locked in.  He also decides after seeing the deathcompany on the charge he should charge them instead.  A full unit of Thousand Sons charge in.  The Reclusiarch strikes first missing everything, while his sorcerer kills him outright with a force sword.  The rest of the units kill 2 from each and stay locked in combat.

A lot happened in turn 2.  His shooting was great and everything in army having invulnerable saves is pretty nice when you can roll them.  I would have like a priest in there for the Feel No Pain bubble for the extra chance at living.  They will definitely be in my next list.

 Early turn 2

Turn 3

In my next turn I really had no shooting as most was locked in combat or had no targets.  In combat the CSM squad takes down all but 3 Raptors who flee and regroup.  The Death Company and Thousand Sons units are still locked.

In the CSM turn the Obliterators deepstrike in first, firing multimeltas at my Landraider, immobilizing it and taking off one lascannon.  The CSM squad fires into remaining 3 Raptors taking down 2 before charging in and finishing off the last one.  The other CSM unit meltas my rhino, causing it to explode, killing one passenger.  His Dreadnought finally gets the drop on my Death Company, charging in and helping finish them off.

Turn 4

My turn again and I have a chance at some redemption at least.  I leave the objective behind, moving up firing 3 flamers and bolt pistols, killing 6 CSM before charging in and finishing them off.  My Death Company Dread charges a unit of Thousand Sons missing all attacks.

It’s looking grim for me now with only a couple units on the board and only having annihilated one of his units. 

This turn he begins moving onto objectives on left side of board as all I have remaining over there is the dread.  His obliterators fire plasma cannons at my flamer unit killing 5 before finishing the remaining 4 in combat.  His dreadnought then charges my DC dread, exploding it in a massive ball of fire that kills 4 of his Thousand Sons, EPIC. 

Turn 5

Well, this turn I’m hoping it’ll end as all I have left is an immobilized landraider and one rhino full of guys camping an objective.  They remain camped firing a couple plasma shots from the hatch, missing of course.

For the second time this game, the TS dread fire frenzies, though this time destroying a CSM rhino, haha.  This dread is my best friend this game, killing a rhino and 4 Thousand Sons.  Another rhino runs for the contestation of my objective but immobilizes itself in some rough ground 5” away.  

We roll and the game continues.

Turn 6

I fire from hatch again, causing 3 wounds on his obliterators.

Again the Thousand Sons Dread fire frenzies killing 1 CSM nearby.  Somebody take that lascannon from him.  The oblits then fire plasma cannons at my only remaining unit taking down 9 of them.

Again we roll, again the game continues.

Turn 7

My last model moves onto objective.

Obliterators then twin-linked plasma gun him, while a Sorcerer Bolts my last rhino.

Game finally ends with Tzeentch in control of 3 objectives and over half the army remaining, while the poor Blood Angels…er, Nightlords have only the immobilized landraider on the board.  Wow, what a slaughter for the CSM. 

 End Game with only my Landraider and wrecked Rhino, and his having 3 objectives

My thoughts on the game.

Tzeentch themed Chaos armies are tough with all those invulnerable saves.  His list was a well-rounded list ready to deal with most things I had.  My list showed me that I need to specialize with either full- mech or full- jump pack.  I think the mix hurt me, especially with reserves coming in so early.  I probably should have hung back and let him camp the objectives before blitzing each one with larger parts of my army, annihilating that part of his before moving on.  Instead, I split up hoping that each of my units could deal with each of his and got owned for the trouble.  Was a great game, with lots of funny moments, especially the dread fire frenzying almost every turn.  At least playing a game got the juices flowing on the direction I will head in with the Nightlords.

If you made it this far, congratulations that was a long one.  I gotta figure out how to make these reports more concise.

Check out my new Nightlord inspired Goat Banner

Lately, I've become tired of the boring look of my blog.  Having no skills in photoshop or any artistic drawing abilities I contacted Goatboy of Bols-fame to make up a banner for my blog.  I sent him a few images of models I have converted, wanting him to use one of these as his inspiration.  After a few emails he settled on the below Nightlord model I converted up a while back.  For a mere 25 bucks he whipped up the above banner and I had it in just a couple days.  I think he did a great job using my model as his inspiration.  Thanks Goatboy.

Using my new banner as inspiration, I'll be posting more on the upcoming Project: Nightlords, including a battle report from this past weekend.  I'll also have some pics of my converted models that will stand-in for units in the Blood Angels Codex as these are the rules I will be using for them.

Project Nightlords: Progress, Kinda.

I finally had a little time to work on a few models lately.  I've had a busy few months with working, building a new house, moving into new house, putting things on walls and what not(read list of things wife wants done), taking more time with 2 year old daughter while wife is pregnant and finally having my son be born last week.  I still haven't moved all my models to the new house and getting the paint out is beyond what time I have to spend at the moment.  I just get a few minutes here and there, so cleaning a few mold lines between chores is about all I get.  Most of the time I'm to tired to skip naptime and put in a couple hours on the models.  

While on vacation in June I did have a chance to read the Blood Angels Codex and decided it was the way to go with most of my Chaos stuff being geared toward Nightlords.  Finally, I can use the 40 Chaos Raptors I have owned since you could actually have that many in a Nightlords army.  I got these out and built and based the final 10 models and changed some of the special weapons to fit the Blood Angels Codex unit entry.  I think they're all legal now for a jump pack army.  When I built the originals a few years ago I wanted a heavy urban war theme on the bases, so I carried this through with the basing on the final 10.  Below are the 4 units of 10 Assault Raptors.

A 10 man unit with 2 Plasma Pistols and Srg with Power Weapon/Plasma Pistol

A 10 man unit with 2 Flamers and Srg with Pair Lightning Claws

A 10 man unit with 2 meltaguns and Srg with Powerfist/Bolt Pistol

A 10 man unit with 2 meltaguns and Srg with Powersword/Bolt Pistol

I'm still in the process of going through my army and sorting which models will work for what in the Blood Angels Codex with as little confusion as possible.  I want to have a Chaos army, but I don't want my opponent to easily misunderstand what my units and characters are.  I'll list my ideas so far.

Mephiston - Fabius Bile model

Reclusiarch - Kharn the Betrayer

Dante - Converted possessed with leathery wings - pic coming

Sanguinor - Converted possessed with leathery wings - pic coming

Sanguinary Guard - Converted possessed all with leather wings - just idea at moment, still need parts to convert

Assault Squad with Jumppacks - Chaos Raptors - see above

Assault Squad with Rhinos - Nightlords CSM - built - pic coming

Terminators Assault Squad - Converted Chaos Termies - still idea stages

Death Company - Khorne Berzerkers - built and posted previously with converted Landraider

Death Company Dreadnought - Forge World Khorne dread with dual CCW

Baal Predators - chaos up the normal model

Vindi - see above

Land Raiders - see above

Sanguinary Priest - maybe Deathguard models, maybe something converted

Those are the few ideas I've had thus far.  I'm gonna post a few lists I have thought up to get me started.  I still have to purchase some Baal Predators, FW dreads, and maybe more bits for Assault Squads in Rhinos.  Gotta get some funds first, which brings me to telling you to check out my earlier post with my list of WH, DH, SM and random bits I'm selling at the moment.  I still haven't had time to post any on ebay, so I still have a majority of the ones shown.  Email at ctreleheb@gmail.com . 

Next up will be some pics of the Forgeworld Thunderbolt I just finished building(may wait til I get more of my basing idea ironed out though).  Does anyone have any FW Epic Tau tanks?  I am thinking of changing the scale of the base to make more of strafing run diorama and these are part of the plan.  I'm also thinking about adding a weekly column about writing themed lists for the hobbyists instead of the competitive player.  I have a few ideas so far, but trying to get more of the idea down before I start posting.

Well, its been a while and that was a long one.  I'm hoping to be a little more consistent soon when the dust settles around the house.