Zvezda Germans

Hey, you know what would be cool? A new scale, that’s what!

Not content with a a cupboard full of 28mm WWII, I picked up some Zvevda plastics, US and German, in 20mm. They’re so cheap, it would be rude not to do both sides. I have a vague idea that I can use them for the Airfix Introductory Wargame. I’ve not played it yet, but a read of the rules makes me think it is what it says on the box, and Modiphius have a pretty good track record. I think a key challenge for this game is finding the right audience. It is an introductory game, so alongside airfix models or in more general game or toy shops is probably ideal. At wargames stockists it may simply be too simple to please existing wargamers. Good luck to them, it deserves an audience.

Anyway, back to the minis. It’s been over 30 years since I’ve painted any softer plastics, or this scale. A wee stroll along memory lane (insert dad joke here). I started with the Germans because you’ve got to start somewhere.

I know some folk can do masterful jobs on smaller scales, and hats off to them. I didn’t take much care or time- the goal to get the box painted. At this scale (and smaller) the general impression is all that is required, and I feel I have achieved that.

Now onto the US.

 

 

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Replacement Pool

Actual hobby occurred! I painted a few more US.

Mostly Black Tree Designs, I think, but also some Artizan and a sprue of Warlord plastics that I found. I’m happy with the result, and they match the existing ones OK.

Now excuse me, I’ve got to liberate Italy from the fascists.

A Wee Update

Beyond reading your lovely blogs, I have managed a little hobby recently.

I’ve made a little progress on some world war two vehicles – not enough to bother with photos just yet. But I have finished a walker for my US Konflikt ’47, a Coyote light walker.

I haven’t looked at the unit profile yet, I picked it up because I liked the look of the model. This is typical of how I design a force: pick the models I like; pick a model because it matches a theme; receive a model randomly as a prize or gift; and in last place is choosing something for its profile.

D.

zombies

Everyone I know seems to have a box of zombies at the back of their cupboard. Often there is no memory of how they even got there. This seems appropriate for zombies. These ones lurked unloved and unpainted for far too long, but have now crawled out of their toxic barrels, ready to shamble into whatever undead filled horror is required. (Most likely as totencorps for K-47.)

I had a play with a newish Citadel paint, Hexwraith Flame. Put it on a light base with a pale grey highlight and it can really glow. It behaves a bit like an ink, so my experiment of using red ink on the same models wasn’t entirely successful, loosing the bright finish. The end result is OK, but didn’t need expensive green paint to achieve. I’m looking at this as a bonus. The models are painted and I’ve learnt a bit about a new paint line from GW.

The models are Eureka Miniatures, and are their usual excellent standard with lots of different poses, which is a real plus for metal figures. From the same manufacturer are these toxic-waste zombies, emerging from mysterious barrels of goo. Good fun.

See you in the wastelands

 

So Arc happened

So how much do you love gaming? I love it enough it enough to get out of bed early on the weekend to cross town to attend the biggest 40K event (in Melbourne, anyway).

Before this weekend I have had exactly one game of 8th edition 40K. Not a great apprenticeship I know, but I figured at 12 or pages of rules, well, how hard can it be?

Pretty hard, it turns out. I took a 5th ed war band to an 8th ed gun fight. While I had six fun games, I had my arse handed to me every which way but winning. My opponents were all great. There were some very cool armies on show too. There are a fair few pictures on Instagram using #arc40K if you want to check some out.

Here is day one. Imagine ugly detail of poor chaos deployment, ineffective shooting, failing to reach close combat and forgetting to use special rules and upgrades, and you get the general idea.

Game 2: Nurgle

Game 3: Nids

Game 1: Custodes

Day two – rinse and repeat:

Game 4: Imperial Fists

Game 5: Guard

Game 6: Nids (Hive Fleet Krakon)

I did have fun, but one thing really bugged me about the current rules. Basic tactics just don’t seem to matter. Flanking is pointless, terrain doesn’t matter. And the command bubble type powers seemed to combine with big units to see every game end up as two, then one, big blob. Even so (and even while getting thrashed), I still laughed and shouted along with the rest of the participants. It was 40K after all, and it is nothing if not boisterous.

I’ve had my fill of the grim-dark for now.  I’m content to leave those that enjoy 40K to roll their buckets of dice. There is a game for everyone out there. Maybe we’ll play one together sometime soon.

cheers.
D.

The Eidolon Rides To War

Can you hear the susurrous of brushes and crazed muttering of gamers as they prepare for a convention?

Arc40K, Melbourne’s longest running 40K tournament is this weekend, so I’m sure lots of folk are madly putting the finishing touches on their armies. Well, I’m ready, but given I only had part of one model to paint, this isn’t so surprising. It was, however, a model that has languished for years unfinished. Fear my Helldrake, it is finally ready to fly over the the grimdark battlefields of the far future!

A bit of mobility and firepower for my Wordbearer coven, most of which I think may have already appeared on this blog over the years. They’re getting on a bit, but I’m reasonably happy with them and it will be fun to have on the table again.

The Eidolon himself: warlord in terminator armour

Terminator champion, “I don’t need armour”.

Cultists, because why wouldn’t you bring a knife to a far-future gun fight?

Dark Apostle conversion

Dreadnought hell-thingy, tooled up for shooting

Plus the daemonettes I shared last-time. Lot’s of them.

Maybe I’ll see you across a table.

Happy gaming.

The road to Arc40K

Arcanacon is convention dear to my heart. Arc40K is an institution on the Melbourne 40K calendar, and deservedly so. It is only a fortnight away and with lists due soon I headed to the shed and pulled out some models. The decision on which one to take was easy, the only current codex I own is the Chaos Space Marine one. Job done.

Arc has always been a full hobby weekend: painting, sports and games, so most people bring some fiction and otherwise go the extra mile to really make their armies drip with theme. Here is my modest effort, background for a Word Bearer coven.

The Eidolon Speaks:

Do you want to live to ever?

Strive to shed the pathetic meat-sacks that bind your souls.

Shrive yourself with bolter and flame.

Strive to Glory on a tide of blood to honour our Dark Lords.

Pave the way to daemonhood with the eviscerated remnants
of the pathetic followers of the rotting corpse-emperor.

Well, do you?

[
The incensed filled landing bay of the deep-space transport filled with raised voices and the crashing of metal as fists beat time on shining armour. Lines of sigil-tattooed marines filed into the waiting landing craft, which roared to life and exited for the short drop the world below.

The Eidolon smiled as he felt the stirrings in his viscera and in the air around him from the pressure on reality as his allies from the warp pushed on the world-membrane, eager to enter this realm and taste blood once more.

The Eidolon smiled.

Soon.

Who wants to live forever?

The Eidolon.

And the pending carnage will bring his plans one step closer.
]

see you in the grimdark

I’ve been hiding in my bunker

Been spending a lot of time in my bunker, so I thought it was time to get some paint on it.

It’s a Warlord Games bunker, for 28mm. It was nice to pick up a brush again, even if it was the largest one I own.

I hold out some hope to get it on the table soon.

D.

Paint All The Minis

I’m on another podcast!

Paint All The Minis is the brain child of Dan Adams, who each week has a chat with someone about gaming. This episode Dan and I speak about K-47, but with more than 100 shows recorded, if that’s not your thing there is sure to be one that is.

What other gaming related post casts are people listening to?

Two houses, alike in dignity

I picked up two new games recently, both of which could be loosely described as skirmish games based on the dark ages. Lord of the Rings battle game from Games Workshop, and SAGA: The Viking Age, by Studio Tomahawk. Both are lovely games. The first editions of both were pretty simple, and I suspect (and hope) that the second editions will be even better, with those little wrinkles ironed out.

I haven’t played SAGA for a long time, but I remember it is the better game of the two. The challenge of managing your saga dice on the battle board is engaging and the opportunity (need) to use your abilities and dice every phase keeps you at the table.

The King had not yet returned when I last played Lord of the Rings, whatever that year was. The new book looks pretty, but to be honest the length of the rules compared to SAGA means I haven’t really looked at that one yet. I bought this LotR on a whim, partly because I have some armies and partly because, being GW, it will be relatively easy to get a game in should I want.

So, not a review, as I’ve done no more than skim the books, and nor have I played any games yet. Consider this more a statement of intent.

Now, back to painting some shield maidens that arrived in the post …