AMAZING PAINTING: Eldar Wave Serpent, Games day Baltimore golden demon winner 2009

Hi guys, thought you all might like to see these pictures of this incredible Eldar wave serpent. i believe it won Gold at Golden Demon Baltimore 2009.

Does anyone know who painted it?

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Tutorial: How to paint a Dark Angel Space Marine (method 2)

Hi guys, heres another vid of how to paint a dark angel space marine, this time brought to you by marneus augustus calgar of you tube fame.

Please note, he dont talk very loud so crank your volume up, and be sure to let him know to talk louder!

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Tutorial: How to paint Chaos deamons-Screamers of Tzeentch

Hi guys, as i know a lot of you like this unit, and not a lot of you like to paint your chaos daemons before using them in your throne of skulls tournament or whatever, i have provided you with this video, courtesy of TheVoodooOrk

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A neat "Longstreet" opportunity!

Hey all!

Okay, a really neat story... After playing a test of Sam Mustafa's upcoming ACW rule set "Longstreet" and annoying all present by taking a bunch of photos, Sam asked if I would be interested in doing some photography for the rule book (or whatever format, I am just assuming it will be a book) itself!

Obviously I said yes... I love taking photos of toy soldiers:). Anyway, that should be a lot of fun!  I do hope I don't stink at it:)

So!  Neat news! :)

The Death of Nelson

Hi all!

Well... my greatest work, complete!

For those of you who saw that keep up with the blog, you may have seen my plans mentioned a few months back about a Christmas gift for my father.  My father, who was the one who started my love of toy soldiers with plastic Afrika Corps sets and amazing handmade forts, is a HUGE naval history guy, and like all naval history guys is obviously a fan of Lord Nelson.

So I thought I'd do a Christmas present for him based on Lord Nelson!

I've done a few miniature based Christmas gifts before... there is, of course, my Harry Potter gift for my wife (the only 25mm Harry and friends I've ever seen) and an AWI display for my father in law, but this was a pretty huge project compared to those.  It consisted of upwards of 20 figures, equipment, and most of all touched on a part of a period I know NOTHING about.  This made it very hard, and in the end I really had to go with display attention to detail instead of historical attention to detail.  For example, I had all of the blocks and tackle and line for rigging the guns (my boss is a ship model builder) but in the end it was just too much for me to tackle (no pun intended!)  Also there are fewer decks than the actual Victory, the colors might not be right, the decks are FAR too tall (this was on purpose... my hands are big and clunky and I was afraid of working in too tight a space) so... well, cut me some slack as far as the accuracy of the model:)

I did work in a lighting element... or two, actually.  First, in the bottom of the scene I rigged a yellow light that focuses on Nelson to draw the eye, as if there is a lamp above him.  The top photo is a shot, completely in the dark, with only that light on.  The photo does NOT do it justice:)

I also rigged up some flashing orange and red lights on the OUTSIDE of the ship INSIDE the box, which, when flashing, look like artillery fire outside of the ship.  It is hard to capture on film, but at least you can get an idea.

Anyway... let's get to some photos!

Here is the whole scene, with the front removed.

Here is the top deck, with the men preparing for a boarding action.

The first gun deck.  Love the powder monkey figure, even if he isn't very "kid" looking.

The next gun deck.

The orlop, with Nelson being attended to by his officers and doctor.

The whole scene, closed up.

And here is a shot of the whole thing with the lights on and low light outside... unfortunately, because of the shutter speed, the outside just looks red.  With the bare eye it actually flashes and looks like cannon thundering away.

So, that is my Christmas gift for my dad!  Hope he, and you all, like it!:D

Oh, and coming up... some fun ACW news!  Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you guys!:)

My greatest work, just about there...

Just a teaser...

More tomorrow.  Best thing I've ever done.

Legio Spectra / Rainbow warriors freehand logo attempt 1

Hi guys, a little bit of an update on the Legio Spectra/ Rainbow warriors chapter, ive been painting up my Lysander HQ and did a little freehand attempt on his shield.

im quite happy with the logo so will probably trun with it in future.

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Hi all!

Well, the basic framing is done (and actually some of the painting, but no photos until that is done!)  Yes, it is not correct, but it looks roughly correct, and that's good enough for me!:)

There are still a number of details needed, and yes, as one comment suggested, I am going to do a grate on the top deck as well, as I think that would just look nice... I will have to be a bit careful cutting it, but it should be doable.

Anyway... oh, and the rest of the crew is painted and dipped.  This thing is chugging along nicely!

Tutorial: How to do OSL with airbrush or normal brush

Heres an amazingly helpful tutorial for you, how to do OSL techiniques on your miniatures with either an airbrush or a normal brush!

Hope its helpful!

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Tutorial: How to make Flyer bases.

Hi guys, do you have a s[pace marine forge world storm eagle that needs a base? perhaps you have a forge world thunderhawk gunship that needs a base? well look no further, heres a tutorial on hpw to make them simple and easy!

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Okay... some serious work on the naval scene to show

Okay!  Well, I am working a bit on the scene.  First off... be kind.  I know it is so completely illogical and ahistorical.  I know that bottom gun would go falling through the grate if it fired.  I know.  But it is what it is, and that's all I can do:)

Still... at least some work is getting done!  The guys in the shot above aren't all in the right places... I have to work on the gun crew layouts a bit.

Here you can see the guys waiting for paint... largely gun crews, but also a few officers, one for a gun deck, and a few for standing below around Nelson dying.

Here is the approximate layout of the guys who will be gathered around Nelson as he dies.  I might mess around with it a bit.

I still have a LOT to do, I know... the block and tackle for the guns in particular scares the crap out of me.   I also have to plan the background scene... should I use a painting?

Anyway... be kind!:)

Tutorial: how to make snow bases / winter bases.

Hi all, heres an awesome little video tutorial from Judge Gudge, telling you how to create your own winter or snow themed bases for warhammer 40k (or anything else!) perfect for space wolves etc! maybe even ultramarines?

Anyway, heres the video!

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Did the Rainbow warriors become the Emperors children?

So as per title really, after working on my RW marines, i noticed the chapter badges were rather similair, for the RW, its a wing with a "point" the emperors children also have a wing, with a "talon" this could easily be a more refined version of the more basic RW logo.

See pic here...



Now could it be possible the RW BECAME the emperors children at a concept/design level? (not in the fluff) as the RW dont tend to show up in GW publications much, if at all after the introduction of the Emperors children, which i BELIEVE to be in ther adeptus titanicus boxed set.

Did someone at GW one day say, hey these guys with a crazy name, should we rename them? and make them purple instead of blue?


Then again, in a recent Heresy novel, "the reflection crack'd" Fulgrim and his legion visit the planet "prismatica" and the rianbow warriors are said to herald from "prism" are these the same planets? there are mentions of multi coloured rainbows in the sky in that novel on that planet...  could there be a link here somewhere? (again from the perspective of the emperors children?)

Maybe the fluff will come full circle and tell us the remaining loyalist emperors children were renamed the "rainbow warriors" thats somethin gi CAN see happening...

Wait and see i guess!








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Another Legio Spectra / Rainbow warriors tactical marine in mk 5 heresy armour painted!

Hi guys its as the title says!


while waiting for my lysander model to turn up to paint as my "first" proper paint job, i quickly repainted an old raven guard into this chap. its a bit rough and ready but for an hours work it will do!

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25mm British sailors dipped

Howdy all!

Okay; the photo turned out craptastic.  But I finished up and dipped the British sailors I've got here (a buddy of mine is clipping the bases off another group of them for me... nothing like an antique bone clipper to get the job done!) and frankly, in person they look AWESOME.  They are definitely dark, but I think that will look nice in the diorama itself... I'll just have to be sure that the ship itself isn't too light colored, making the guys really stick out.

I'm also going to play a bit with the light in the display, and using the figures around it to help show off the light and dark... the parts of the figures that are in shadow will be painted a bit darker, and the parts in the light will be given a nice light highlight to show it off.  I won't actually be doing object source lighting, but...

Anyway... more updates as I have more done!

Crazy!: two guys eat leeches that have just gorged on their own blood. (caution may make you gag!)

Hi guys, i know this isnt Scifi wargaming but i had to share this with you, these two guys let leeches suck their blood, then proceed to eat the leeches! i was nearly sick.

not nice!

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Top 10 hobby tools for 40k

Top 10 hobby tools for 40k courtesy of chuffy 1976 of youtube fame!

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Top 10 warhammer 40000 special characters!

It’s that time of the week again - Top Ten time!  Last week we ranked the Top Ten units in 40K.  This week we’re looking at the Top Ten Special Characters in 40K.  This is not a one-on-one arena deathmatch.  We can argue for hours about who will kick whose ass.  This is a list ranking the characters in order of power in the game itself, not against each other.  Also, I am still not including any of the new Dark Eldar Special Characters until I see them on the table.  So, onto the rankings.

Honorable Mentions:  Guardsman Marbo, Nightbringer, Marneus Calgar, Deathleaper, Doom of Malan’tai, Darnath Lysander, Ursarkar Creed.

10. Mephiston  (Blood Angels)

Mephiston is a strange character to play.  You see his toughness six and six wounds with a 2+ armor save and no independent character and think he’s indestructible.  However, he has no invulnerable save and can’t join a unit for protection.  Granted, he kicks some serious ass in close combat with his WS seven and initiative seven along with his psychic abilities.  However, he’s a little too fragile to be any higher on the list.

9. Commander Dante  (Blood Angels)

Dante is one of those characters that is very versatile.  He can hold his own in close combat and take out a Land Raider with his infernus pistol. He debuffs an opponents independent character of your choosing and doesn’t scatter at all when deep striking (great for that initial shot with the infernus pistol).  He’s got great mobility with his jump pack and decent durability with his 2+/4++ save and four wounds.

8. Kairos Fateweaver  (Chaos Demons)

Fateweaver is more of a buffer and shooter than close combat,  however he does these things well.  He can fire three weapons at three different targets, and he allows friendly units within 6 inches to re-roll armor, cover and invulnerable saves.  I’m sure everyone’s run into a Fatecrusher list at one point or another.  On top of all this, he can deal out instant death in close combat and has five toughness and three wounds with a 3++ save.  Throw in wings for mobility and Eternal warrior and you have yourself a brute.  He’d be higher if not for his Oracle of Eternity downside of leadership tests on failed saves.  One failed leadership test and he flies away.

7. Njal Stormcaller  (Space Wolves)

I’m not going to get into a discussion of how the Space Wolves are against psykers altogether yet sport one of the best psykers in the game.  Njal is a monster knowing all the Space Wolf psychic abilities, carrying a staff that nullifies opponents’ psychic abilities within 24″ on a 3+ and wounds Demons on a 2+, the ability to wear Terminator Armor, and his Chooser of the Slain, Nightwing.  On top of all this he has his Lord of Tempest rule which just brings the awesomeness every turn.

6. The Swarmlord  (Tyranids)

Arguably, he’s the best close combat character in the game.  He sports a WS of nine, making marines hit him on fives.  He’s toughness six with five wounds.  He has a 3+ armor save and 4++ save in close combat.  Oh yeah, he inflicts instant death and makes the opponent reroll successful invulnerable saves, me likey.  He passes along either Preferred Enemy, Furious Charge, or Acute Senses to a friendly unit within 18 inches each turn.  You add +1 to reserve rolls and can reroll your outflank die to see from what table edge the unit will arrive.  And finally, he can cast two psychic abilities a turn seriously gimping his target with Paroxysm or healing himself with Leech Essence.

5. Logan Grimnar  (Space Wolves)

There are many different “Logan Bombs” running around in 40K right now.  With his The High King rule, he can bestow Relentless, Preferred Enemy, Fearless, or Tank Hunters on his squad to create some real nastiness out of Drop Pods.  Once per game he gives every friendly model within 18 inches +1 attack.  The real powerhouse item, though, is his Axe Morkai.  This allows him to strike at initiative with a frost blade or hit with a powerfist dividing his attacks between the two as he sees fit.  Throw in Terminator Armor and Eternal Warrior and you have a true close combat tank.

4. Eldrad Ulthran  (Eldar)

Eldrad is hands down the best buffer/debuffer in the game.  Three psychic abilities a turn and Runes of Warding make a tough game for any opponent.  His Divination allows you to redeploy units creating advantages for yourself.  Plus, he rolls three dice for psychic tests and picks the two lowest and has a Ghosthelm just in case he fails it.  Add in a 3++ save and you will almost never take a wound from Perils.  Dooming a unit then guiding a Dire Avenger unit right before they Bladestorm never gets old.

3. Abaddon the Despoiler  (Chaos Space Marines)

There are few units in the game I fear more than one with Abaddon attached to it.  Abaddon sports every mark in the Chaos codex raising his toughness to five, initiative to six, attacks to four, and invulnerable save to 4++.  On top of that his Demon Sword Drachnyen and Talon of Horus combine to give him strength eight at normal initiative and +D6 attacks while re-rolling to wound.  I got rolled by him once when he hit with 11 attacks at initiative five and strength eight.  Ouch.

2. Ghazghkull Thraka  (Orks)

Ghazghkull is one of the toughest characters in the game to get rid of.  Toughness five, four wounds, Eternal Warrior, 2+/5++ saves and his super Waaagh making his 2+ save a 2++ save for a turn making him tougher than a Land Raider.  Also, don’t forget he’s pounding you with his strength ten Power Klaw and seven attacks on the charge while you try to figure out how to kill him.  WAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!

1. Vulkan He’stan  (Space Marines)

Not many characters in the history of 40K have evolved the meta game as much as Vulkan.  Granted, he’s a beast in close combat with the his relic blade and 2+/3++ saves along with his heavy flamer.  It’s his Chapter Tactics that make Vulkan so great.  With mech being the flavor of fifth edition, Vulkan’s army wide twin-linked meltas, multi-meltas, flamers, and heavy flamers are phenomenal.  Throw in master-crafted thunder hammers, and you have an army ready for anything.  He does all this for a measly 30 points more than a similarly equipped Captain.  Sheesh.

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Tutorial: How to make Rivets.

 Hi guys, heres an awesome tutorial on how to make rivets.

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