Tis the Season... For Burning Wrecks

Since I'm getting ready to start playing Warhammer 40k games, hopefully in the new year, I've been investigating all of the extras that are needed aside from the army. The extras are mostly dice, blast templates, and reference cards. And also counters and markers for various game states. Since I have a Land Raider I was curious about what people do when the vehicle gets destroyed. I watched some games at the local store, checked online, and looked at the rulebook. There are two scenarios: the first is where the vehicle explodes in which case you replace it with a crater or debris terrain and the second case is where it is wrecked. The rules say you can flip the model upside down (not an option for my original first edition tank and it's weak plastic bits on top) or place cotton to indicate smoke. Ah ha!

So I did another search online and came across this great idea:
http://dedard.blogspot.com/2011/10/making-destroyed-wrecked-markers-for.html?m=1
I also found this idea referenced here too:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=246990

Burning smoke markers are pretty easy to make and it was the perfect time of year to make them. I got some of the little LED candle lights, some Buffalo Snow, a glue gun, some black spray paint, and (ironically for those who know me personally) some hair spray. Following the directions, I found the project was really easy and made some pretty realistic fires. I experimented with 2 different types - ones where I removed the fake flame and ones where I left it in. I kind of like the ones where I left the flame in better, but I think either way you just need to make sure to have a good clump of the cotton/snow stuff over the LED to defuse it. One of the ones I made is a bit light on cotton so you can see the shape of the light thru it a bit. Still they turned out great and I'm excited to use them!

Decal Failure - Freehand Success

I was excited to try out a technique for applying transfers using MircoSol and MircoSet that I had found on a blog. The technique first has you apply floor polish (Future Shine) to the area to make it very smooth and prevent air bubbles. The second step is to start soaking the transfer and apply some MicroSet to the area once the floor polish dries. Next you apply the transfer and start painting on MicroSol to the edges to erase the lines. After it dries you cut thru any air bubbles and repeat until it looks right then you apply more floor polish to seal.

Sounded great but didn't work for me. I think the problem is the curvature of the surface - I've seen lots of people online have had problems with shoulder pads. I tried cuts so that it would curve into place but I just ended up destroying the decal. I tried working on the larger terminator shoulder plate but still some of the edges stuck up and trying to press them down eventually destroyed it.

So I went back to my freehand technique which actually I'm pretty proud of. First applying a black circle with a horizontal bar on top, I then draw the Ultramarines symbol in gray over the top. Next I apply blue to "erase" the black in the middle. Finally I apply grey+white and then white highlights to give it depth and it turns out pretty good. For the terminator I skipped the black and did not do the erase step and that turned out ok too but it was a lot harder, the black helps give you a target for freehand drawing the "u".

Finally, for fun I copied a skull pattern I saw on the transfer sheet and I was surprised how well it turned out. Basically I drew a circle in white+grey and connected two "bubbles" on the bottom for eye sockets. The gap between the bubbles was the nose and then I finished with some vertical strokes for teeth. Last, some white on the eyebrow ridge for a subtle highlight.

Well, I have a lot of MicroSet and MicroSol now.

The decal looks ok in this picture but you can see it got chipped on the interior top left edge.  You can't see the lifting due to the curvature but it eventually caused it to peel off.

Black base and freehand painted 'U' in gray.  It is a bit wide and off but the next step cleans that up.

"Erasing" the middle with blue, usually always improves the shape too.

The Terminator was harder since I didn't apply the black or the "erase" step but it turned out ok.  Better than the decal always falling off.



Freehand skull turned out pretty good!

Tactical Squads

Roughly two tactical squads minus heavy weapons from Rogue Traderish era sets. I had a 15 pack of Mark VII marines plus some blisters of uniques including 6 beakes (Mark VI) and one Mark VIII. Most of the uniques would turn into special weapons or sergeants.

I started these a very long time ago and some were for my dad to play an army. It turned out we never came close to really starting. He had only painted some of the eyes with green. So I took them back awhile ago and again didn't get going on them. When I moved into my condo I set aside space in the garage to work on them but there was still a bike in the way. Finally I cleared it out and got to work this September.

I had painted marines a long time ago but I would say these were my first success, owing a lot to the examples painted for me by my friend Anna. The rest was experience gained reading blogs and painting. It was sure a lot of blue. The other exciting thing was the shoulders. I had picked up Ultramarine embossed shoulders and they look great!

Devastator Squad

The devastator squad gave me a chance to try some new colors and refine some techniques I had first learned on the sergeants. My goal was to make each weapon type have a color scheme that would make it stand out a bit and also identify it right away. I chose green for the lascannon (green laser!) purplish for plasma like before, and boltgun metal for the heavy bolter (surprise). The backpacks would get these colors too and it really worked out since the colors are the gun "ammo" it makes sense the backpacks would have the same colors.

For plasma and lascannons I wanted the backpacks to have a glowing effect due to the "high energies" of the backpack power sources. It worked pretty well for the plasma cannon, but the green on the lascannon was harder to do due to the shape of the pack. It's not quite right so I might come back to it later.

I also refined skulls, chest eagles, and eyes. Also I learned purity seals and they turned out well! I used the micro pen technique for the text. It was too bad the giant guns hid most of the work done on the chest eagles but it was good practice for the terminators coming soon.

Painting sergeants

Started working on the marines again after cleaning out the garage in September. There were 14 Mark VII marines in one of the original metal box sets. Additionally there were some unique models from blister packs. Many of these had been loaned to my dad for his army. Later on when it became apparent that we wouldn't finish them together I took them back. It was time again to finish them. Of all the models, 3 of the unique figures started to take shape just the right way. They were then promoted and I focused on making sure I practiced techniques on the others first. I found several blogs including The 40k Hobbiest which gave me even more ideas to try. In the end though, most of my accomplishments were from practicing. Figuring out how the paint behaves and being patient were key.

I use a classic technique right out of an early Citadel how to magazine. I highlight the edges of the armor with lighter and lighter shades of blue, leaving black lines in between plates. The key to mixing paint is to use some slow dry mixing medium, it really helps. As I said before, figuring out how the paint works takes a lot of practice but is the main battle.

The chest eagles turned out well. It was a base of brown, then orange, then chestnut ink and then golden yellow. For the jewel it was black and then shades of red. Finally after the dull coat sealant I went back and painted on 'ardcoat to make it shine as recommended by Drew in his blog. It looks great.

For the plasma pistols I went with a purplish energy since I haven't otherwise gotten to use those colors. I've used that in the other plasma weapons later and I like having consistency in the game "physics."

The First Battle

A small skirmish against hostile Dark Eldar. Primus Leodes Exevio Faustus, accompanied by his staff, and a tactical unit broken up into two recon squads, encounters the xenos apparently engaged in combat training.

Turn 1
Not allowing the xenos to gain the initiative, Faustus launches an attack in the name of the Emperor. One decisive rocket hit destroyed the xeno transport killing 4 aboard. Another is cut down before reaching cover. Brother-sergeant Marcus is critically wounded leading the rush into the trees on the right flank.

Turn 2
After advancing to a forward position in a ruin on the left flank, Faustus and his command squad consolidate in the burnt out building and vaporize 5 xeno scum in immolating fires of napalm and plasma. The nimble xenos are fleet and advance quickly on his position attempting to engage in melee. The tactical squad continues to suppress the survivors of the transport and a group of shooters moving up to support. The xenos are in an instant upon Faustus hoping to overwhelm him. Three of his men fall but Faustus' will is as strong as his trust in the Emperor.

Turn 3
The remains of Tac squad Marcus continue to pin down the fighters to the right while missiles rain in from afar. Power amour protects the righteous. It appears their commander is in this group who breaks away and charges forward. The melee continues in the ruin as Faustus smashes xenos with his mighty power fist but is lightly wounded. More brothers fall.
The Dark Eldar are routed as they take major casualties in close combat on the left side. The tactical fire support team devastates them with more missiles as they retreat. Faustus moves to support Marcus' men.

Turn 4
The forward unit on the right fights valiantly, slaying the already wounded from suppressing fire xeno commander, before being destroyed by flanking fighters.

Turn 5
Faustus and the fire team purge the remaining xenos and survey the area while collecting the honored dead.

Primus Leo Faustus Arrives in the area

Deployment: Faustus directs his men to take the advantage

Turn 1 End: Faustus enters the ruin as the xenos scramble after their transport explodes!

Turn 2: Faustus immolates the xenos attempting to move into the ruin.

Turn 2: Three battle brothers fall as the Dark Eldar finally assault the ruin.

Leo Faustus surveys the battleground, victorious.