Tag Archives: Hobby

Returning from a Long Hiatus

2016/02/10 KeptainKayak

It’s been a long, LONG time since my last post which was WAY back in June of 2015. I guess I got busy after that and hobby took a backseat.

I had a lot of projects on the go; my biggest was to finish an Astra Militarum Valkyrie. I’m also mostly done an Inquisitor Karamzov model. But the finishing touches on each could take a LONG time, and that was a little discouraging. Although I love vehicles and big models, they take a lot of time and if I get an hour here or there I don’t feel like I got a lot done in each little sitting.

I also have A LOT of unpainted models: Dozens of Astra Militarum infantry, 10 Space Marines, 5 Space Marine Scouts, 3 Space Marine Bikes, another Dreadnought, about 20 cultists/inquisition acolytes/conscripts, 2 crusaders, a Land Raider, another rhino, 13 arbites, Commissar Yarrick, and a handful of other characters. I’ve also started 5 terminators, a techmarine, another Commissar, and death cult assassins. It’s a long list. Perhaps it’s so long that it seems insurmountable and it may simply be easier to give up.

The "to do" pile. Rather large and regrettably daunting — The “to do” pile. Rather large and regrettably daunting

Towards the end of 2015 I hadn’t touched my models in a long time, and the unpainted masses were getting further and further buried. I even considered selling them all for a few extra bucks.

And then for whatever reason, this week I’ve felt a compelling to get back into Warhammer. Pimpcron published a timely post regarding Murdering the Hobby Slump like I was in.

So, with time on my hands last Friday night, I took the advice from that post, sat down and worked on a single model. And I finished it happily.

My painted version of Cyril the Bear, the Dwarf King's Court Royal Mascot — My painted version of Cyril the Bear, the Royal Mascot of the Dwarf King’s Court

This was a model I found on eBay about 8 months ago of a Cyril the Bear, the Royal Mascot of the Dwarf King’s Court. It is a Citadel miniatures model, but from 1982. I just kinda wanted a bear to add to an Inquisitor’s party. I thought it would be suitable as an equivalent to “Arco-Flagellant”

	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld	Sv
Bear as Arco-Flagellant	5	1	5	3	1	3	4	8	–

I think this profile sits suitably because it represents a strong, dangerous animal that can hit hard in close combat for 15 points.

So, I enjoyed that hour and I think I’d like to do some more. Maybe keep carving out some evening time or weekend afternoons for personal hobby time. The dangerous question is what next?

I’m even tempted to buy some more models if I see a good deal on eBay. Okay, I probably shouldn’t, the to do list is still REALLY large. But a Stormraven, another Vindicator, Predator, or two more Leman Ruses would be really nice.

Hobby

Nork Deddog

2015/01/05 KeptainKayak

I bought this Ogryn model for Nork Deddog as part of another wave of eBay purchases. I’m not very fond of the new, plastic model for Nork Deddog, so finding a version of the old, medal model made me pretty happy.

Original Nork Deddog model, primed white

I tried to follow a similar colour scheme to the rest of my infantry models. But I did make it a point to give him big medal shoulder pads. And I have him a beret. A soft fabric hat seemed ironically appropriate for a brutal giant assigned as a bodyguard!

Tactics:

He makes a very interesting character to add to a command squad. At 85 points he’s more expensive than a Chimera! So, obviously in a mechanized list, he’s not useful points. But, as Imperator Guides states, he can be very valuable in the right deployment.

In my previous games, my command squad was decimated in close combat, and my commander murdered in close combat challenges. This powerful, very tough, close combat-oriented character can now absorb challenges that would normally decimate my commander. And his Heroic Sacrifice special rule is rather ridiculous: If slain in close combat, he gets to make all his attacks (again if he already hasn’t) before he expires!

He also makes a very efficient meat-shield. He has look-out so he can take a wound for another character, including the regimental advisers. Having Feel No Pain almost replaces the need for a medic. And 3 wounds with T5 and 4+ armour save is nothing to sneeze about!

Nork Deddog with a Company Command Squad

He also looks interesting as part of the Command Squad. Like other Ogryns, he’s head and shoulders bigger than all humans. So, he looks like the most intimidating character in the group, even though he’s “merely” a bodyguard.

I look forward to using him in combat and taking down enemies with his “thunderous headbutt”

Hobby

Happy New Year!

2015/01/01 KeptainKayak 2 Comments

Happy New Year readers! If there are any of you…

Anyways, I saw this particular post on Tumblr and decided it was a good resolution for myself and this site: Not to buy any new Warhammer Models until I finish painting all the ones I currently have. (Well, I may buy a bit here and there if I need it to finish the job). There are a lot of models left to paint…

Leman Russ that I will make into a Punisher Tank Commander

eBay picture of Leman Russ kit that will become mt Tank Commander in a Punisher — eBay picture of Leman Russ kit that will become my Tank Commander in a Punisher

Leman Russ that I will make into an Exterminator

eBay picture of Leman Russ that I will make into an exterminator

3 Ogryns as Bullgrnys with Slabshields

eBay picture of Ogryns I will convert into Bullgryns

eBay picture of Bullgryn Slabshields I will give to the Ogryns

5 Old 90’s Style Stormtroopers (first mentioned in this post)

Old 90's stormtroopers — Old 90’s stormtroopers

4 Servitors

Servitor with servo arm	Servitor with servo-arm
Servitor with Heavy Bolter	Servitor with Heavy Bolter

Squad of Space Marine Scouts (5 models inc Sergeant and Heavy Bolter)

Eversor and Vindicare Assasins

Lots of Inquisition Henchmen:

Jokaero Weaponsmith
Acolyte as Ministorum Priest
SOB Dialogus as Ministorum Priest (x2)
Crusader
Death Cult Assassin
Servo Skull (x2)

eBay pic of Inquisition Henchmen in blister

And I have enough parts for probably about 8 more guardsmen.

And I still have to finish a Rhino. I’m still deciding if I want to do it as a Rhino or Razorback, and Space Marine or Inquisition.

And THEN, there are lots of models I could convert or update.

This will keep me busy for A WHILE!

So, NO BUYING for a while.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hobby

Another Wave of eBay Purchases

2014/11/10 KeptainKayak 1 Comment

I haven’t completely gotten through the last wave yet, but I bought a whole bunch of other things on eBay to fill out my army:

–Leman Russ Battle Tank
–Schafer’s Last Chancer (10 of 12 models)
–Nork Deddog
-4 servitors
-5 Old 90’s “Stormtroopers”
–Rhino

Each of them fills a void or interest in my army.

Leman Russ Battle Tank parts, still on sprue, but primed skull white

The Leman Russ is a given because it’s so iconic for the Astra Militarum. Reviews from Grumpy Guardsman and Imperator Guides say the Leman Russ Main Battle Tank (MBT) is too expensive and ineffective because of the ordnance rule. I agree, but it is a nice ‘generalist’ for my first Leman Russ. I expect it’s S8 AP3 will be great for chewing up Space Marines. And, I can modify it like the Basilisk for lights and sound, which is a big plus!

I really like the Schaefer’s Last Chancer’s models and am looking forward to painting and using them. I plan to organize my Cadian models as a platoon from now on, and I wanted some models that distinctly looked like veterans. So, this set of the “Last Chancer’s” looked perfect. A nice treat is that the set includes a meltagun, heavy bolter and missile launcher. I plan on fielding them as “melta-vets” in a Chimera, and some as my new Command Squad.

Ogryn I plan to field as special character Nork Deddog

I don’t have any fluffy special characters, and reading the Codex I decided I wanted Nork Deddog. In my previous battles, my Command Squad has been devastated by close combat. This big, tough, angry Ogryn should act as a good deterant or measure for fighting back!
I don’t like the new Ogryn models, so I was very pleased to get a good deal on this older version of Nork on eBay.

Servitor with servo arm	Servitor with servo-arm
Servitor with Heavy Bolter	Servitor with Heavy Bolter

Since I plan on fielding a rather tech/mech heavy army, a Techpriest and some servitors are practical and appropriate. Some dislike them as not useful or cost-effective. But I like the idea of Techpriest repair rolls being more effective. Further, for 10 points you essentially get a guardsman wearing carapace armour armed with a power fist! Not a bad deal. And two of these servitors I ordered have heavy bolters, which will give them some punch in the backfield and overwatch protection. I’m looking forward to fielding the squad of 5.

The old stormtroopers are an oddball but I like them. I have a squad of old 90’s stormtroopers which I’ve fielded a few times. But they’re a different colour scheme and hard to field because of the heavy bolter and plasma gun. These additional 5 models give me some flexibility. I can run 9 lasguns or modify one to have a plasma gun and run “plasma vets”. And more importantly, I can try out the new paint colour scheme on them.

This Rhino is a bit of an oddball. It’s not an Astra Militarum vehicle. However, it could be a Space Marine Rhino to go with my Imperial Fists or as a transport for my Inquisitor. In fact, I’m tempted to modify it a bit and field it as a Razorback for additional mechanized punch. We’ll see how it goes.

This pile should keep me busy for a while! Lots of fun to come!

Hobby

My Techpriest is Going To Be Busy…

2014/08/11 KeptainKayak 4 Comments

Until recently, my Astra Militarum army was almost entirely infantry. I only had a Chimera and a Taurox. Then I went on another eBay binge and got another Chimera (opened but only slightly assembled) and a brand new Cadian Armoured Fist. Building the two Chimera’s will keep me (and my techpriest) busy for a while.

Omnissiah be praised! Bless these machine spirits!!

And I probably should have stopped there until I finished my backlog which now includes about 25 infantry and these two tanks. But no, I made one more purchase…

eBay lot of 3 broken tanks, a Chimera, Basilisk and Hellhound — eBay lot of 3 incomplete tanks, a Chimera, Basilisk and Hellhound

The lot consisted of parts for 3 Imperial Guard tanks: A Chimera, a Hellhound, and a Basilisk. I thought it was too good a lot to let go.

I’m looking forward to having a heavily mechanized army now. When it’s all assembled, I’ll have the following vehicles:

4 Chimeras
1 Taurox / Taurox Prime
Basilisk
Hellhound

I’m currently bidding on a lot that includes the parts to upgrade a Chimera to a Hellhound. I think a pair of Hellhounds is better than one! And I may switch out their hull-mounted heavy bolters for mutli–meltas.

With so many vehicles, I should probably get another tech-priest and/or some servitors. This tech-priest from Forge World looks amazing!

This tech-priest model looks amazing! And probably needed to help maintain my soon-to-be mechanized army.

Someone needs to get me off of eBay…

Hobby

Imperial Fists Captain

2014/07/16 KeptainKayak 2 Comments

As I mentioned in this post, I clamored together $120 worth of online purchases so that I could get the Limited Edition Web Exclusive Space Marine Captain as a free bonus.

I didn’t want to make an Ultramarine Captain, I wanted to make a Imperial Fists Captain! He would fill a needed HQ slot for my Imperial Fists army.

I started by painting his parts in the sprue.

Space Marine Captain's parts still on the sprue — Space Marine Captain’s parts still on the sprue

I like that he came with a storm bolter. It’s a versatile weapon and still allows him to charge the same turn as firing. The power fist is good, but I wanted something more iconic. For the game Warhammer 40,000, I thought it was fitting that the Space Marine Captain carry a Warhammer! Fortunately, a Stormtrooper model I bought on eBay had been modified to carry a Thunder Hammer. That model can’t carry it in-game, so I removed it and gave it to the Captain.

I also switched out the head it came with for a space marine sergeant head. I figured he should be yelling and not so stoic.

Almost completed Imperial Fists Space Marine Captain

I’m really happy with how he turned out, especially the cape.

Imperial Fists Space Marine Captain: Left view

Imperial Fists Space Marine Captain: Front view

Imperial Fists Space Marine Captain: Right view

Imperial Fists Space Marine Captain: Back view

I made use of the power fist that came with the sprue and gave it to the veteran sergeant of my tactical squad.

Veteran sergeant now equipped with a power fist and my Captain

I’m looking forward to having the Captain lead an allied detachment of Space Marines, or as an independent army!

Space Marine Captain leading a small tactical squad of Imperial Fists Marines

Hobby

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!

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

My Inquisitor: Painting

2014/06/20 KeptainKayak 2 Comments

A while back, I made a large purchase from the Games Workshop website so that I could get the Limited Edition Web Exclusive Space Marine Captain. I had to order over $120, so I got a bunch of stuff Astra Militarum models:

I didn’t have enough to get to $120, so I also ordered an Inquisitor with Combi-Weapon because I thought he looked cool. He’s got a massive sword, cool-looking gun, and his cape is flowing! Of course he looks awesome!

This is what it looked like before painting (note, not mine exactly, I forgot to take a pre-painting photo)

I wasn’t sure if or how I would use him in my army. The Inquisition eBook Codex has been a really good reference for me. It explained rules and profiles for Inquisitors and how an ‘Inquisitional Detachment’ can be added to any Imperial army.

I primed him white, and then decided that he should have a similar paint scheme to my Imperial Guard Infantry models. So I decided I’d lean heavily on the Adminsitratum Grey, Abbadon Black, and Averland Sunset.

I then decided I wanted to give this model a little punch. I found Auric Armour Gold at my local Games Workshop, and went a little overboard. I wound up painting the entire cape gold over the yellow. I regret nothing. It’s so shiny…

A lot more painstaking work went into the painting, but I’m really, really happy with how he turned out.

A touch I really like is that I added my family’s coat of arms on his right. I’m also particularly proud of the coloured wires on his left arm going to the gun.

Inquisitor Warhammer 40k Model, painted — My Inquisitor Model

I think I’m going to call him Inquisitor Pyradius. A long time ago, I used have have the nickname “Pyrad”, so adding the -ius makes it sound more latin-like and grimdark.

I look forward to sharing posts about this model, and potentially his retinue.

Keptain Kayak

Tag Archives: Hobby

Returning from a Long Hiatus

Nork Deddog

Happy New Year!

Another Wave of eBay Purchases

My Techpriest is Going To Be Busy…

Imperial Fists Captain

Astra Militarum Infantry Platoon

Texture Bases for Models

My Warhammer 40k Personality

My Inquisitor: Painting

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