Tag Archives: Astra Militarum

Astra Militarum Infantry Platoon

2014/07/06 KeptainKayak 2 Comments

I recently finished my set of Astra Militarum Infantry models. I’m really proud of how they came out. These Cadian models turned out really well with my custom colour palette. It looks like an imposing force. In a battle, I expect they’ll be slaughtered, but they look really cool as a mob right now!

My Astra Militarum Infantry Models (click on the image for higher resolution)

At the moment, it’s a fully fieldable army with an HQ and two Troops selections. This army consists of a command squad and two infantry squads. I went rather heavy on the special weapons, so there are only a couple of different ways I can field them:

Current Arrangement:

Company Command Squad (96 points)
-Officer carries a boltgun
-Vox-Caster
-Regimental Standard
-Medi-Pack

Veteran Squad 1 (81 points)
-Sergeant carries a boltgun
-Vox-Caster
-3 Grenade launchers

Veteran Squad 2 (76 points)
-Sergeant with laspistol and close combat weapon
-Vox-Caster
-2 Flamers

I like this arrangement. Veterans have a higher Ballistic Skill which can come in really handy. I imagine Veteran Squad 2 would go in first because of their flamers, and the the other two squads would support from behind. I have a Chimera and I’m finishing a Taurox, so I hope these can help me move the move the squads around quickly. With the transports, this works out to only 373 points!

I parts to make 15 more Cadian infantry models from an eBay purchase so I’m thinking about how to add them to this army. I was considering making a close combat oriented command squad, but I think I’ll save those chainswords for my Inquisitorial henchmen. There are two directions I could go: Add another veteran squad, or re-arrange into an infantry platoon.

Option 1: More Veterans
Pros:
-Keep up to 3 special weapons per squad
-Keeps Ballistic skill of 4
-Options for special doctrines (grenadiers, forward sentries, demolitions)

Cons:
-Slightly more points
-No additional officer
-Limited to 6 in force organization chart (FOC)
-Unable to combine squads
-More of the same

Company Command Squad (96 points), Veteran Squad 1 (81 points), and Veteran Squad 2 (76 points), Chimera (70 points) and Taurox (50 points) remain the same.

Veteran Squad 3 (81 points)
-Sergeant carries a boltgun
-Vox-Caster
-3 Special Weapons

New total: 449 points, 35 models

Option 2: Infantry platoon
Pros:
-Additional command squad that can issue orders
-Flexibility to create heavy weapon, special weapon, and conscript squads

Cons:
-Ballistic skill reduced to 3 because infantry squads are no longer veterans
-Limited to 1 special weapon per squad

Company Command Squad (96 points), Chimera (70 points), and Taurox (50 points) remain the same.

Platoon Command Squad (66 points)
-Officer carries a bolt pistol and power sword
-Vox-Caster
–3 grenade launchers

Infantry Squad 1 (61 points)
-Sergeant carries a boltgun
-Vox-Caster
-Flamer

Infantry Squad 2 (60 points)
-Sergeant with laspistol and close combat weapon
-Vox-Caster
-Flamer

Infantry Squad 3 (61 points)
-Sergeant with bolt pistol and close combat weapon
-Vox-Caster
-Flamer

New total: 464 points, 40 models

So, for 15 additional points, I get 5 more models, but the group isn’t quite as strong. In fact, I see those 15 points are the same as the power sword on the platoon commander. Hmmm..

I could combine a couple of these squads into a Combined Squad for serious fun. If I got a couple more lasguns I could separate the flamers into their own special weapon squad too.

I guess one of the nice things is that I can easily switch between the two arrangements by leaving out a couple lasguns.

Which direction should I go?

Hobby

Texture Bases for Models

2014/06/29 KeptainKayak

I was inspired by this post to make texture bases for my new models. In the past, I had merely painted the bases, but that looked uneven, and it was obvious which models had slotted bases. This post details how I made slotted bases for some of my Cadian Infantry Models that have slotted bases. I used the same technique on bases that don’t have slots.

The first step is to paint some P.V.A. Glue onto the base. I used the Citadel P.V.A. glue that came with my Citadel Hobby Starter Kit, but I imagine any white glue like Elmer’s glue would work too. I made sure to get glue in the slot position so that the sand will adhere and cover it up.

On some models, there is a lot of space in the slot, so I used some Liquid Green Stuff from the Citadel technical paint line first to fill in the gaps before applying the glue.

Applying P.V.A. (white) glue on the base

After the base was covered in glue, I literally dunked the base in sand and swished it around a bit. I used the tub of Citadel Sand that also came with my Citadel Hobby Starter Kit, but I imagine any other sand will do.

My enormous finger pressing the model base into the sand tub

I swished the model around in the sand for about 30 seconds and then removed it. I tapped it against the side of the sand tub to remove some excess. I then used a paintbrush to remove the sand from anywhere it didn’t belong, like on the side of the base, or on the model’s feet.

Model with sand base emerging from the sand tub

If your model doesn’t use a slotted tab, it’s MUCH easier to do the base before you attach the model. I followed the same procedure and pressed the empty base onto the sand for about 30 seconds for the same effect.

Just the sand looks pretty good by itself. You can see how it has already hidden all evidence of the tab. I left it overnight to dry.

Basing several models at once with glue and sand

I did several models at once, and I highly recommend it doing many at a time. This way, it become something of a production line and you have all the parts out and ready to go.

I wanted to go for an urban, grey look on the bases. So I started with a base layer of Imperial Primer which is black. The sand is VERY thirsty for paint, so I recommend watering down the paint significantly This also helps it filter through the sand.

Basecoat of watered down Imperial Primer (black)

I followed that up with a watered down coat of Administratum Grey. Since the Grey was watered down you could still see traces of the black.

In the last step, I did a very light drybrush of White Scar over the top of the textured surface. Using the paint very sparingly is critical because it maintains the grey and black on the lower parts of the base.

I’d say the final product look pretty good. It looks light grey, but really there is a touch of white, a layer of grey, and bits of black still peeking through.

Finished texture bases on my Astra Militarum Infantry Models

I hope you enjoyed reading this and found it useful!

Hobby

My Warhammer 40k Personality

2014/06/25 KeptainKayak

I used to play Space Marines as part of my Warhammer 40,000 army. Specifically, I used to collect an army of Ultramarines. I’ve since lost interest in them. I find them a little too lawful neutral, like Javert from Les Miserables. At other times, they are a little too lawful good (or lawful stupid) being painfully adherent to the rules of the Codex Astartes. When I was little, I used to be so goody-goody and blindly follow the rules. I guess as I grow, my interpretation of morals changes too.

Now I see why the fandom calls them the Ultra-Smurfs

Of the Astartes and Primarchs, I find myself recently more drawn to Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists. They’re more neutral good, like me (I consider myself a Type II neutral good). They also seem unusually somber and serious. And the resounding trait they inherited from their primarch is stubborn determination, and must learn when to back off.

Here’s a great quote from the Sentinels of Terra Space Marine supplement that really struck a chord with me.

Those who encounter the sons of Dorn are often left with the impression of somber and cheerless warriors. Those that know them better recognize the passion that all Imperial Fists keep under tight rein through adherence to protocol. This continual mortification is necessary, for pride has ever been the Imperial Fists’ greatest weakness.

But, in general, it’s a little hard to relate to Space Marines. They’re genetically and technologically enhanced super-soldiers that have been through rigorous psycho-training and live only for combat. In a grimdark future of technological and daemonic monstrosities, how does a normal human stand up?

That’s one of the things I find most appealing about the Imperial Guard Astra Militarum: It’s regular humans facing the horrors of the future. They have flak armour and lasguns, but in this setting it’s the equivalent of cardboard armour and a flashlight.

I suppose the Inquisition could apply too because many of them are just super-trained men.

Anyways, if when I ever play a game, I’ll report on how regular men fare in the grimdark Warhammer 40,000 universe against the horrors that appear there.

Hobby

Bit Of Fluff

2014/06/22 KeptainKayak

I’ve joined a Facebook group of Warhammer 40,000 players. It’s called a narrative group, but will be based around narrative games. In a fit of inspiration last week, I wrote this as a grimdark introduction to my army and posted it:

” These are dark times indeed.

It was quiet in the cargo hold. Inquisitor Pyradius paced slowly in a dark corner. He muttered quietly to himself as he reviewed the dataslates. His mood was dour, and new news didn’t help.

The Inquisitor and his retinue preferred to stay in cargo holds, engine rooms, and other utility spaces away from the crew. It was as much for their safety as the crews. His retinue did not suffer strangers warmly.

He examined his retinue closely packed but sprawled across the floor of the cold, dark room. They were exhausted from their last encounter, but it would be foolish to assume they were resting unprepared. The Inquisitor spied a melta-gun pointing at the cargo bay door, a half-slumbering acolyte ready at a moment’s notice to defend what was left of the eclectic band.

The group had just returned from a battlefield. They fought valiantly, but we’re forced to quit the field. An exterminatus order was executed to purge the enemy and purify the planet. It didn’t feel like a victory.

The Inquisitor turned his thoughts from his recent foray and back to his dataslate. Reports of incursions in the sector were becoming so numerous that he was starting to lose count. The messages were so frequent and jumbled that it was no longer clear who the agressor was: Heretics? Daemons? Xenos?

He spied his daemonblade resting against the bulkhead. It still bore entrails from the recent battle. Pyradius could also sense the restlessness of the lessor demons entrapped within the massive weapon. He was always nervous using such arcane powers, but he relished using it against the Emperor’s enemies.

The door to the cargo hold burst creaked open. The Inquisitor reflexively pointed his weapon at the door. He quickly lowered it when he spied the regimental commander. His regiment of Imperial Guardsmen had been raised specifically to support the Inquisitor’s activities. It had been whiddled down to but a few squads of hardened veterans over the years. They were sporadically reinforced, but their numbers always remained low.

No pleasantries needed to be exchanged between the two men. After years of shared battle, typical Imperial formalities were no longer necessary. Inquisitor Pyradius gave the commander a morose look. Without a word, the commander understood. He nodded gloomily.

These are dark times indeed.”

Hobby

Painting Infantry Squads

2014/06/08 KeptainKayak 3 Comments

Here’s a post about the painting the first models I bought in this interaction of the hobby.

I’ve decided to go with an Astra Militarum army (formerly known as Imperial Guard). I used to play Space Marines, but I find the notion of regular humans fighting against monstrous creature to be especially heroic. So, I started with a box of Cadian Shock Troops.

The default colours for the standard troopers is pretty cool, but I wanted to try my own design to personalize them.

Default colour scheme for Cadian Shock Troops

The models come on plastic sprues like this:

There are an awful lot of steps between the sprue and the next stage, but I didn’t take pictures of them all. I see that a lot of people assemble their miniatures first and then paint them. I found it easier to paint the body parts in the sprue. I see that a lot of people assemble their miniatures first and then paint them. However, I still had to do lots of touch up after assembling them.

I decided to paint these troops having grey fatigues and black armour. At first I was worried they’d look like German WWII troops, but they still look kinda futuristic.

It would have been natural to paint the helmets black too. But yellow is my favourite colour right now, and I thought that would really make them stand out. I used Yriel Yellow first, but I found it was too bright. In the end I used Averland Sunset and liked the final colour. It’s a little more orange and subdued, but still yellow like I wanted.

Mostly completed guardsman. Preparing the base for detail sand in this picture.

Employing a little bit of out of game strategy, I realized that the kit came with enough parts to make the “characters” for two different squads, including two sergeants, vox-casters, and special weapons. To fill out the two squads completely, I bought two boxes of “Cadians” which are much more bang for your buck and easier to assemble.

Two Astra Militarum infantry squads painted by me

I’m pretty happy with the results. At this point I’d consider them “table-top” ready. They could definitely use some touch-up, but they’re ready for a game. I don’t have any HQ units yet, so I can’t play any games at all yet.

It didn’t dawn on me that I have 20 models built already. I’m getting an idea of what an infantry-heavy model will look like, and I like it!

In terms of points they’re very cheap too. A 10-man squad costs 50 points. With a vox-caster and flamethrower, the squad is only 60 points. I’m tempted to call them “veterans” for an extra 10 points and improved ballistic skill. It can all be changed in the future.

Keptain Kayak

Tag Archives: Astra Militarum

Astra Militarum Infantry Platoon

Texture Bases for Models

My Warhammer 40k Personality

Bit Of Fluff

Painting Infantry Squads

My Warhammer 40,000 Blog featuring Imperial Guard, Space Marine and Inquisitor Models