From GregB: Space Marine Command Group

Commander & bodyguards for the Vylka Fenryka.

Big surprise: I'm back with even more Space Marines! I'm just on a real sci-fi roll right now at the painting table. This is a Space Marine command group - a Centurion, and standard bearer and a pair of body-guards. The commander and the banner-bearer are resin figures from Forge World - they are wearing Mark IV powered armour, burnished with extra fancy bits, like cloaks and combs for their helmets. The two other marines are assembled from an assortment of left over plastic bits. The decals on the figures are from GW and Forge World. As with most of my recent work shared in the Quarantine Challenge, the models are painted in the colours of the VI Legion Astrates, the "Space Wolves".

Adding a command group like this to the collection helps to firm things up to my random hobby mind. A headquarters choice that brings things together, elevating the assortment of Vylka Fenryka figures from scattered and random side projects into a single, coherent force - one that demands further escalation in terms of additional assets, or course...but a significant waypoint in the evolution of the collection and painting process.

Awesome sculpt on this figure - I love this command group, great work by Forge World.

Rear view showing the shoulder pauldron & back pack.

The Space Marine Legions of the Horus Heresy setting have a cornucopia of officers, commanders, specialists, medics, engineers and other heroic figures you can choose from to serve as HQs, but the core selection of the senior HQ level is this small assembly of a senior officer and three elite associates, one of who carries a banner.

We can have some fun with the wolf-themed symbols on the banner. These are decals from Forge World.

Carrying a banner into battle in such a futuristic setting is a ridiculous anachronism - and I just love it! I mean, it's just OBVIOUS that you would do that, right? You step out of your combat-drop-pod or your Storm Eagle gunship or your Lander Raider or your Rhino or whatever and you make sure your banner is present - it is simply how things are done, even amid the grim darkness of the far future.

I love this figure! Great sculpt again by Forge World.

I thought I would try a different colour combo for his shoulder pauldron, to help him stand out more.

This Centurion figure is a favourite sculpt of mine. Normally I hate Space Marine figures who are not wearing their helmets. Space is dangerous! The Emperor spent a lot of money making you! Wear your damn helmet! But this fellow is an exception, the sculptor did a fantastic job on the figure. He looks like he just stepped off a transport, and is wanting to see the situation for himself, with his own eyes. He is cradling his helmet in one hand, ready to bellow some further orders to his underlings, with direction to be reinforced by his power sword if needed. He looks like an actual officer, something that very few Space Marine command figures actually do.

Bodyguard for the command group.

The two additional figures, essentially bodyguards for combat, are composed of a hodge-podge of components...when you are as passionate about 30k as I am, you start to accumulate enough spare bits that you can put together an extra marine here and there...these fellows have the helmets, shoulder pauldrons and backpacks of Mark III power armour, the torsos and legs from Mark IV power armour, and arms and weapons from one of the new "Primaris" marines. As guards for the banner bearer and Centurion, I figured these fellows would be veteran fighters from The Rout, only gradually replacing armour bits as required (hence keeping the 'older' Mark III helmets and shoulder plates).

A little blurry, but I enjoy the animation on this figure.

The assortment of spare bits came together nicely.

These veteran marines would also have access to cool kit - I thought the "bolt rifles" from the new Primaris marines would do the trick, and I'm pleased with how they turned out. I really like the look of the longer barrel and the (redundant and over-the-top) gun sights.

Ready to lead a Great Company from The Rout into battle.

While I was sure to put a lot of wolf-themed decals on the banner itself, I have again avoided adding pelts or any of that other wolfy-wolf stuff with this command retinue. If I ever add a Rune Priest or something like that, well...SOMEONE will likely need to wear a pelt cloak or something, but for now, I like to keep the obvious wolf theme to the decals and the banner. 

From Curt: Resurfacing, a Mine Entrance and a Construction Project

Forgive me hobbyists, for I have sinned. It's been over a month since my last submission...

Yes, work has certainly amped-up, there is that, but in fact it's more about the wonderful spring weather we've been having that's stolen me away from the hobby desk. While our winters here in the Canadian prairies can often be brutal, the other three seasons can be glorious, and when this happens the paints, brushes and figures play second fiddle to the dogs, deck and yard stuff. 

Nonetheless, while I've been shamefully absent from posting to the blog, I've still managed to keep involved in a few hobby-like things. 

First, my rather uninspired submission to the QC is this protected mine entrance for my Siege of Malta project. 

During the siege, the Ottomans made very clever use of sappers who dug shafts and mines meant to collapse the island's outer defenses. I thought it would provide for a nice scenario where the defenders sally out to try to disrupt the besiegers.

This is a one piece vac-formed terrain piece from Vatican Enterprises (previously Hudson & Allen). A great piece and a good value.

The other hobby project that has been absorbing a BIG portion of my spare time has been the planning for the construction of a hobby-studio on our property.

Having a gaming studio has been a long-time dream of mine. Our home, while very comfortable, is limited in its layout in providing a dedicated space for gaming and hobby stuff. I typically host games on our dining room table (with all the frantic game preparations and laborious tear downs which that entails), and my hobby storage is limited to where I can find nooks and crannies around the house to squirrel things away. One scenario had us looking for a new house that could accommodate our various wants/needs, but we found the search next to impossible as we've grown quite attached to our existing home and were loath to leave our beloved neighbourhood. So the resulting compromise was to construct a structure on our existing property that could serve as an additional hobby space. So we contracted an excellent designer who took my notes and did a great job of drafting up a few concepts for us to choose from. Below is the one we went with.

A few views from the architectural plans of the proposed hobby studio.

It's a bit of a Q-Ship really. For the purposes of getting a building permit and local tax assessment the structure has been disguised as a 'detached single-car garage', but in reality the interior will be kitted-out for full-on hobby geekery (i.e. loads of shelving, figure storage and a decent sized game table). With us living in Canada this project involves lots of infrastructure considerations like heating, cooling, venting, vapour barriers, water drainage, property line setbacks, the works. It's really like building a separate mini-house.

One of its best features is that it features a 12' bank of glass sliding doors overlooking our deck and garden. This will allow in lots of light and provide a nice place to step out have a drink or two during games. 

Anyway, the building site has been cleared and we're just awaiting the city's go-ahead to begin foundation work and construction. To say I'm very excited would be an understatement. My plan is to have the basic structure up and enclosed by autumn with the finishing work to be wrapped up next spring. Wish me luck!

Curt

From NoelW: Playing both sides: Lord of the Rings

As time is running out, I thought I’d try hard this week to do something for as many of my outstanding projects as possible, to see how close I could get to achieving my original plan. It turns out: not very.

My son decided we should watch The Fellowship of the Ring. Dammit! I’ve been such a sucker for that story all my life, since first picking up the book in the school library in 1967. So, whenever we watch the film, I automatically resurrect a LOTR project. It's a compulsion. (You don’t want to know how many LOTR projects I’ve started. I’ll give you a hint: currently there are 11 Gandalfs in the house. And possibly some I've forgotten).

So this time I made another stab at forces for the Pelennor Fields. For the side of all that looks real Good wearing of the white hat of truth, justice and the Gondorian way, here are 12 Swan Knights, currently looking for their horses:

Whilst for their dastardly foes, representing all that is Dark, Evil and almost certainly unnecessarily smelly: 6 mounted Haradrim 

and 9 on foot:

That’s 21 foot and 6 mounted 28mm figs (all GW, of course), so 165 points, making my imaginary total for the Challenge 1454 points (although nothing for the side challenge with Stuart this week. He may have me beat.)

So far am I from the plan I began with, I'm not posting an update this week. Just imagine everything is going amazingly well, on course for a spectacular successful save in the final fortnight, then if you expect to be disappointed at the finishing line at least that expectation will succeed.

From TamsinP: Citi Def Troopers for Judge Dredd

Following on from the Justice Department, this time we have their civilian support, the Citizens Defence. In Mega City One each block has a militia which citizens can join, the Citi Def. Their role is to defend their block during time of emergency and to assist the Judges when called upon to do so. Some block Citi Defs are reasonably well trained and competent, others less so.

When you consider how bored, stupid, downright nuts and generally ornery most of MC1's citizens are, you can well imagine that giving them access to military grade weapons is potentially not the wisest of moves. They have regularly been the instigators of or involved in the frequent block wars (where citizens of one or more blocks start fighting those of other rival blocks) which occur.

However, they have played important roles fighting alongside the Judges in numerous major stories: during the East Meg Sov invasion of the Apocalypse War; and Judgement Day when the necromancer Sabbat traveled back in time (pursued by Johnny Alpha) and raised an army of zombies which attacked many cities.

I've just primed the next batch of figures, so I should have some more to show you soon.

From TeemuL: Weekly update (5 points)

Trying to keep up with the one post a week schedule and real life tasks I only have a small offering today. Finished this beauty late last night. Invisible Frodo with the Ring by talented Citadel/Games Workshop sculptors in clear plastic. Based on my usual Lotr style, brown sand all over the place.

This is from my Wacky list.

U: 0 (total 10)
N: 0 (total 8)
W: 1 (total 2)
F: 0 (total 16)
R: 0 (total 14)

S: 0 (total 2)

Points:

5 points (total 308)

From Minion TeemuL:

This kind of smaller miniatures are great for trying out new technics, I really like the extreme edge high lightning on the cloak, OSL around the Ring and NMM on the Ring itself. No wonder it took a whole week to finish!

From MikeV: 6mm Portuguese Line Infantry and Cacadores

As a continuation of my current Peninsular project I have this week completed a further two regiments of Portuguese infantry - the 5th Line (First Elvas) and the 2nd Cacadores regiments. Both regiments belonged to the Second or Centre Division and carry the distinctive white standard.

I am now close to my 24 stand target for the Portuguese, with only four stands to go. At 20 stands strong, they are now the equivalent of a 7,200 force on table in Age of Eagles terms. I cannot say that I am pleased with my progress - it is quite possible to be much more productive when painting 6mm figures but I have other life stuff going on which obviously take away precious painting time. This week I hope to wrap up painting figures and concentrate on a few terrain items.

All figures from Baccus as usual.

Cheers all!

The two regiments completed this week

2nd Cacadores

5th Line Infantry

The full Portuguese complement

From StuartL - Free French Goumiers

Some models are easy to paint, others can be a challenge. Minis that make us question our life choices are, thankfully a rarity. However, that is probably the category that this group fits into. I've had these on my workbench for a while now and getting them done was a grind. Painting (somewhat) neat lines onto their djellabas (robes) was a very challenging task.

These figures are the start of a Late War, Free French army for Bolt Action. Thankfully, this bunch represents the entirety of the Goumier contingent. The Goumiers were originally from Morocco and served as local auxiliaries for the French Army of Africa. When France signed an armistice with Germany, the Goumier were designated as Gendarmerie, to get round the limits on soldiers the French were allowed to have.

The Goumier fought alongside the allies in Tunisia, Italy, France and Germany, as part of the Free French forces. While highly regarded as tough, reliable fighters and excellent mountain troops, they also had a reputation for committing war crimes against civilian targets, leading to several of them going in front of a firing squad and others being sentenced to hard labour.

In total, I painted up 2 units of 12 and an officer with an assistant. All of the models are from Artizan Designs. Ideally there should be some support weapons like mortars and machine guns, but Artizan don't produce them sadly. If anyone knows of any company which does, please let me know in the comments section.

So, for my imaginary scoring, that's 26 minis at 5 points a piece giving a respectable 130 points to both my AHQC score and my side duel score. The current results therefore stand at 939.5 and 737.5 points respectively.