Project Thunderbolt Part 4: Finished Display Base and Pilot

Today is a quick post showing a few pics of my base completed.  The pics were outside so they're kinda sunny/shadowy.  Above shows the display base complete and the initial paint on the gaming base.  It will get some drybrushing and shrubbery, but now models.  Below are a couple more shots of the finished base.

Above is a shot of the Epic-scale Falcons before they were glued onto the base.

And a couple shots of the completed pilot before I put him into the cockpit.

A side shot of the pilot.  I also have the Limited Edition Thunderbolt Pilot that I will eventually paint to go with this.  I do wish this model was as good as the standing version I have, it is really awesome.

Next time I'll show the final painting and details along with the base.  I still haven't had a chance to use the weathering powders on it yet.  Thinking maybe I should try it on something else first.  I need to search around a little online and see a few more videos of people using the stuff to try to get a head start.  I have also been working on my Trollbloods and will put up a pics of my Mauler I finished Monday.

Project Thunderbolt Part 3: Airbrushing and Initial Weathering(Pic Heavy)

I finally got this baby assembled and primed with a rust red primer.  I agonized over the paint scheme for days and finally decided on a desert theme using the weathering technique I posted here.  The light brown would contrast with the rust red primer to make the weathering stand out.  The above pic shows the salt still in place after airbrushing.  I know top picture is out of order, but the primer pic doesn't draw attention.

The above pic shows the top of the model after the hairspray and salt were applied to the primer.  At this point the bottom of the flyer had been airbrushed with a cream color.  I wanted the bottom to be totally different using camouflage of sky when seen from below and camouflage of the desert when seen from above.

Above pic shows the bottom taped off before starting the airbrushing of the camo on top of the flyer.  This is the part of the project where you learn some valuable lessons.  DO NOT RUSH THE PROJECT.  However, I didn't follow this rule because the fall weather was nice and I wanted to get at it.  So within a half hour of airbrushing the bottom I removed the salt and taped it up.  Do not do this in the same day or maybe even couple days, especially on resin models where even with good cleaning practices the paint doesn't adhere great.  This was also in the same day as applying the hairspray which is another no-no.  Either way, I went on to airbrush the top, then upon removing the tape, removed most of the bottom paint as well.  This really sucked and I had to re-paint the majority of the bottom with a brush. Not cool.

Above pic shows flyer with the airbrushed camo before removal of the salt.  This was pretty tough, as I'm extremely new to the airbrushing thing and really wanted it to come out awesome.  For the most part, I am very happy with the desert camo except for a couple places that I won't tell you about.  Also, in this shot you can see most of the steel gaming stand I made and mentioned in the 2nd part of this series.

Above shows the technique I used to removed the salt and do additional weathering.  I used a toothpick dipped in warm water to removed the salt.  For the really stubborn ones, I would pool a little water around it and wait a few seconds.  This would make it release easily.  Be careful though, to much water and the thin airbrushed coat of paint can lift completely from the primer.  I then rubbed the hard edges with the same damp toothpick as shown.  This would leave a great little worn line along any edge.  This took a half hour or so, but gave a great look overall, adding to the weathering from the salt.  If you look closely there are a few places where this removed all paint including primer.  I touched up these spots with a brush and some paint mixed to closely match the rust red primer.

Another shot of the weathering before blacking out any of the details.

A closeup of even more of the weathering down to the hard edges.

A last shot showing the entire flyer after final weathering, but before any details were worked on.  Next up would come the brush work, blacking out everything and adding some metals.

In the next installment of this series I will show the pilot and Epic Falcons painted for the base.  I also received my weathering powders in the mail and am itching to get a little time to experiment with those to add some additional weathering and exhaust blackening.  Hope you're liking how this project is shaping up, I know I'm wanting to put this large project in the done pile so I can get back on some little guys(time permitting of course).

Old Stuff Day and my 100th Post

I am going to jump on the Old Stuff Day Bandwagon and show the project that started this blog for me back in '09.  I wanted to convert up a nice army and paint to a high standard(for me anyways).  I had loved the Deathguard army since the old rulebook when they had their own rules and you could have 70 dudes on foot infiltrating and firing bolters like Papa Nurgle meant.  I just post a couple links to these articles below that I like the most from that series.  So check these out if you get a chance.  I hope to get back to this army soon, I kinda gave up on it after all the conversions and little painting.  Once I moved in with the mother-in-law for a year and had no place to model they were packed away.  They will see a return soon though, I'm hoping for a new CSM codex next year and want to be ready.

My Obliterator Conversion Article

First Unit of Deathguard Conversions

Nurgle Daemon Prince Conversion

Nurgle Rhino Conversion

And some of these painted

That was probably to many links to check out but man, looking back at those old posts makes me wanna get painting on those guys.  I have a full 2,500 pt army converted up like that waiting.  I also had a couple useful hobby articles that enjoyed putting together.

Organizing your bitz

Hairspray and Salt Weathering Technique

There are some of  the old posts I am most proud of on this blog.  And I just realized this is my 100th post.  Took me almost 2 years, but hey I'm not one for spamming multiple posts everyday just to make my hit counter spin.  

This was fun bringing back some of the great stuff from the beginnings of the blog where I was pretty much the only one reading.  If you remember these, thanks for reading.  Has also been fun checking out the Blog Rolls and seeing what everyone else had on their blog in the early days before discovery.

Project Thunderbolt Part 2: Building A Base (Pic Heavy)

I wanted to make a cool display base for my Thunderbolt, but needed to come up with a solution to offset the flyer.  After lots of thinking and mind changing I decided to make the base with Epic scale models and do a "strafing run" scene.  This required a heavy base to accommodate my idea.  Luckily, I work at a steel fab shop and know how to work the CNC plasma table.  So, I sketched up a quick oval sized what I thought would work on the computer program and burned the base from 1/4" steel hoping this would be heavy enough without going overboard with thickness.

Above is what I came up with.  I also took a small strip of flatbar and hand-formed it using a piece of pipe to get some radius.  Above is what I came up with after welding it together.  I got pretty lucky and this was perfectly weighted.

I finally decided I wanted to do a desert canyon scene with models trying to flank, kinda like in some Black Library book I read.  Above is what I sketched up on some old cork tiles.

After roughly breaking the tiles on my marks it started to come together like a canyon.

A shot of all pieces broken out, with some small bits for the top to break up the flat surface.

The completed canyon before adding the sand.  I glued this with a hot glue gun initially.  Not a very good idea as the small one I have couldn't lay down enough glue fast enough before it started to cool.  I had to add some white glue around edges where it was pulling apart and weight down with books to complete process.

Another shot of the canyon before adding the sand.

A view of the canyon depth.  Came out around an inch deep and was perfect for the epic scale models I was using.

A shot with the sand added.  I used the GW basing material for this.  I have several kinds of basing material, but decided this was the best option with the very small sand and larger "boulders".  I say boulders because the models on the base are 6mm scale.

Another shot showing the pegs that are used to hold the Eldar Falcons I was able to find on Ebay.  I really wanted to use some Forgeworld Epic Tau Hammerheads, but found these were almost impossible to find.

Above show the slot I milled into the bottom of the Thunderbolt using a Dremel tool.  It's a little rough, but the fit is tight and lets me position the flyer at different angles of entry.

The only other shot I have showing the Falcons in place before painting.  

I think the first picture of this post shows exactly what I was aiming for when the idea popped into my head for a "strafing run" shot.  The nose of the flyer can be repositioned up to hide the stand, and this will be shown in later pics.  When I envisioned this, I wanted to be able to look over the tail of the Thunderbolt and have the image of small targets rapidly approaching firing range.  From the side view, it is a little odd and out of scale, but the "over the top" view makes this look much as I wanted.

I also built a smaller gaming base about the size of the Valkyrie base from steel to.  This will be shown in later posts.  It is very strong and heavy and will keep accidents from happening during gaming.

Well, that's all i got going with the base until I show the painting of it.  Next post will show the initial primer and weathering stages using the salt weathering technique I showed a while back on some Tau test models.  I also used the airbrush for the first time on this model doing some camouflage, so that will be shown as well.

Project Thunderbolt Part 1: Building My First Flyer

Finally, I'm gonna try to get something on the blog about this project.  My cousin, who posts here as reklawsj, is the only 40k gamer I know besides me in my county.  He bought me this Forgeworld Thunderbolt because I wouldn't stop talking about how awesome it was, and I got him a summer job at where I work, so he says, I think he just wanted me to get this thing on the table so he could shoot it out of the sky first turn played and dash my dreams.  

So, as usual this thing sat in a bag for a year before I decided to tackle it.  I started building this last June, so yeah it's taken a while, work, new house, wife, 2 year old and baby, you know the usual suspects.  At this point I have finished painting this thing, except for some weathering powder experiments I am going to do on it.  I ordered a few powders from Secret Weapon Miniatures and expect them in the mail this week.  I'll let you know how this experiment turns out.

On with the build.  First I laid out all the parts to make sure everything was included and got to work with flash removal(shown below).  This was extremely messy and I did it when my family was gone so I could get everything cleaned up safely.  Resin dust is bad for you.  A couple of the pieces needed a little heating and straightening in some hot water, but nothing major.

Then it was onto the soap bath.  I usually soak my parts overnight and scrub several times.  These ended up being in the bath for many days, because I couldn't get time to get back to them.  None of this matters, just be sure they are nice and clean if you intend on keeping the paint on the model.

After cleaning, it was time to assemble.  And yes, what you see below are all the instructions given.  The back of one of those pages shows the parts laying out and the other is blank.  Pretty much they show you a picture of the fuselage without engines, with engines and then plane done.  Even with the lack of instruction, it is a pretty self-explanatory model and with some test fitting and additional sanding it was finally assembled.  In a few of the main joints I put some pins and some balls of Green Stuff to strengthen the model.

Below are a couple of pics in its "ready for primer" stage.  

I wish I had taken a few more pics of the build-up of this thing so it would be a little more informative for people trying to build one themselves.  Sorry.  Next installment in this series of posts will be the base I built that holds the flyer about a foot and a half out of the center.

I'm trying to get back on the hobby wagon now.  I organized my paint area last night and hope to paint up my Hordes army next before getting back on the 40k stuff.  I can't decide which army I want to paint that is built. I have went to my local game store and played Hordes for the first time now, so I'm pretty excited to get the Trolls done and on the table more.

"Hobby List of the Week": Sallie Wing

So back when the shiny new Space Marine codex came out I was one of the many who came down with Vulkan fever. Twin linked meltas and flamers? Yes please! I immediately bought way too much Space Marine stuff (can you have too much) and started an army. I now have a wide range of Salamanders to choose from for a great variety of games. One thing I might have went overboard with is buying Terminators. Salamanders love their terminators right? Right! So I have 40+ different terminators, half of which have never been used in a game, because well, there aren't enough slots!

But a few weeks ago something wonderful happened. They FAQ'd Dark Angels. I don't like Dark Angels, never have, too many secrets. But I figured "hey, every chapter has an elite first company, better yet they're still green!" So this is my approach at the Salamander DeathWing or Fire Drakes as they're known.

HQ
Belial w/ Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield

Chaplain Interrogator w/ Terminator Armor


Troops
5 Terminators
Company Banner upgrade
Apothercary upgrade
4 w/ TH/SS
1 w/ Cyclone Missle and Chainfist

5 Terminators
4 w/ TH/SS
1 w/ Heavy Flamer and Chainfist

5 Terminators
2 w/ TH/SS
1 w/ Cyclone Missle and Chainfist
2 / Powerfist and Storm Bolter

5 Terminators
2 w/ TH/SS
1 w/ Cyclone Missle and Chainfist
2 / Powerfist and Storm Bolter


Elites
Venerable Dread
multi melta
heavy flamer
extra armor
in Drop Pod


Heavy Support
Crusader w/ pintle storm bolter

Land Raider w/ pintle storm bolter


2000 pts
4 scoring units
10 kill points
25 models



The plan: So Belial and the Chaplain will ride with the command termie squad in the crusader. The other CC squad can ride in the other land raider. They can start on the table and in the first turn you can deep strike in one of the 2 termie squads in reserve. Then hopefully around turn 3 or 4 you get a dread comin in and the other termie squad.

I really like the idea of Belial with a command squad of termies. 2+ save with 3+ invlun, and FNP? I'm salivating. I could trade out the 2 land raiders and get 2 more squads of termies to come in, but Land Raiders are just fun and fit the fluff. The Dread may not do too great but again I'm a fluff player and I think he fits in really well. The chappy is just there to get some rerolls in CC. I'm used to TH rerolls with my sallies so I think that squad should be pretty amazing.

This may not be the most amazing list but should be fun to play and in my opinion is the most important thing. I think it may also be a tough list to play since I'll most likely be outnumbered even my Grey Knights. But seeing this many Salamander termies on the table should be a really cool sight.

Now if I can just figure out a way to get those flamers and meltas twin linked again......

"Hobby List of the Week": Huron's Red Corsairs

Red Corsair Chosen Unit with Space Wolf Bits

Chosen Rhino

Finally, I made it through the holidays and need to get something back on the blog.  I am gonna get back to the hobby list and hope to start showing something on Project Thunderbolt when I have time to put together a series of articles and finish the final paint details.  Work has been too busy for me to even pick up a model lately.

This week I'm gonna do a Red Corsair list using the Chaos Codex.  The Red Corsairs are a cool band of renegades.  Pretty much, you can throw together everything you like and it would make a perfect band of Chaos pirates under the employ of Huron Blackheart.  So here goes the list, lead by the man himself.

Huron Blackheart

Chaos Sorcerer - Mark of Slaanesh - Lash of Submission - meltabombs

Chosen Squad - 9 dudes - Champion with Power Weapon - 4 flamers - Mark of Khorne
     Dedicated Transport - Rhino with Combi-flamer

Chaos Terminators - 3 dudes - 2 with combi-meltas - 1 with Heavy Flamer and Chainfist

Chaos Space Marine Squad 1 - 10 dudes - Champ with Powerfist - 2 meltaguns - Icon of Chaos Glory
     Dedicated Transport - Rhino

Chaos Space Marine Squad 2 - 10 dudes - Champ with Powerfist - 2 meltaguns - Icon of Chaos Glory

     Dedicated Transport - Rhino

Chaos Space Marine Squad 3 - 20 dudes - Champ with Powerfist - 2 Plasmaguns - Icon of Tzeentch

Chaos Bikers - 5 dudes - Champion with Powerfist and meltabombs - 2 with meltaguns

Vindicator - extra armor - dirge caster

2,000 pts

12 killpoints

3 scoring units

63 models

Okay, so this army just has a little bit of everything you need with some things that are just cool, like 20 crazed bolter-toting Chaos Marines on foot with a 5+ invulnerable save all the time.  This unit is where I would attach the Sorcerer, as it will take a lot to make this unit go away completely.  I would put Huron in the Chosen unit for the 5 flamer template action, as well as plenty of power weapon and powerfist attacks using the Mark of Khorne.  Add to this a couple 10 man units of CSM with meltas and re-rollable leadership for staying power.  The Bikers are the fast threat that can be brought in from reserve to help where needed with there meltas.  The termies need to deepstrike in using one of the Icons to help any unit in trouble.  They are mostly expendable, but being termies they will need to be dealt with.  And last is the Vindicator.  Not only does it draw fire off other units early game, it will also be nice if you can get Lash off on a unit and bunch them up.  Not always a sure thing, but when it happens, it is glorious and pleases Chaos much.

The modelling side of this army is great.  It includes some unit of every mark of Chaos except Nurgle.  Each unit can be modelled up using normal Space Marine parts as well as Chaos bits.  The painting can vary wildly, with some models keeping some parts of their armor painted as they had from whatever chapter they defected from.  My idea of Huron's renegades is that they are a bunch of like minded Space Marines that are tired of following the Emperor.  Some of these guys will have turned completely to Chaos, while others will still be Space Marines at heart, just not Emperor-loving Space Marines.  This idea gives the modeler a great range of opportunities when it comes to conversions.

So, there you go, my idea of a renegade band of Space Marines lead by Huron Blackheart.  There are so many modelling possibilities when it comes to Red Corsairs that I can't even begin to list them all.  Maybe you think renegade Space Marines are as cool as I do, or maybe not, but you have to admit the modeling aspect of the army is awesome.

The pictures at top are of my Chosen unit that Huron rides with.  I converted these using Space Wolf bits.  I figure when Huron hijacked the Wolf of Fenris, a few of those guys decided to work for him instead of being tortured and raped by the Slaanesh guys in Huron's warband.  And I figure Huron, having read the new Space Wolf codex, would make them his personal bodyguard, hoping they would give him some secrets on becoming the strongest army on the internet.