Battle at the River

A while ago the eldar of Craftworld Apseraph encountered a large force from Waaagh! Ryan. The eldar, being a small and mobile swordwind, were outnumbered four to one. I would like to report of a glorious battle and victory against the odds, nut sadly, this is not the case. The sheer amount of attacks the surviving orks had (even after storms of shuirkens) was unstoppable.

By the third turn what remained of the eldar force was not enough to gain a victory. The Autarch targeted the warboss, commanding the remaining eldar firepower at his bodyguard upon the warp gate. The two foes, having fought before, failed to kill each other. With the battle going to the orks, the remaining eldar slipped away.

Fly the Flag (Assembly)

Well, Hallowe'en celebrations are over, back to the grind..

The Sheffield Irregulars are having a painting competition for November, the theme being "fly the flag". I began by selecting bitz and visualizing the conversion the morning after Hallowe'en. In this state of subconsciousness, I liberated a small pile of arms, legs, skulls and a banner.

Beginning with the base, since this will be a "minirama" I selected a large base, built a very ruined portion of barricade and added a strip of sidewalk. a pile or refuse was added, (an orc skull, a gas can, and the iconic helmet-on-shovel).

The next step was the two guardsmen that make up the subject matter. Several ideas went through my mind, things like victorious banner waving, piles of fallen foes, last man standing, but in the end a more sombre theme won. The concept became centred upon the leadership aspect of a regimental standard.

The veteran, entrusted with the regiment's banner, leads his wounded, blind comrade through a warzone. They are almost covered in battle damage, yet still moving forward.

Soon, I will paint them...

Ricalope, SL.

Warp Wednesday Four: Creepy Things

Hello again, welcome to another wednesday, I know, it happens every week...

Here in the warp we have my favorite and least used model in my collection, featuring no conversions; skeleton w/ chainsaw! (Happy Hallowe'en all!)

Also, a shot of the "Turn Tree" (pronounced 'turin' for some reason). No, they are not nurglings, but Tzeenchlings (kinda the same but orange and blue), and I have no idea where they came from.

Hmmm, scary things? Dragon ohgrs are pretty scary (last I used them they pounded three units without taking a wound). On my quest to make cheaper ohgrs, I fused the plastic oghrs with the fat cold ones, and it was surprisingly easy, (much putty was used).

And lastly, a shot of my chaos ohgrs. The 'big' one is the one with the stomach problems (nothing says love like belly bitey). As you can tell, I used many krootox heads, I think this gives them the essential "Tzeench look." The ohgrs themselves are armoured with dryad heads nailed to their bodies, as well as providing great protection, it also aggravates the wood elves (which makes them miss more often in shooting I think).

Well, back to painting bugz...
Ricalope, SL.

A Guy With A Hammer

Hello again,
I was intending to enter a painting contest for the Scheffeild Irregulars, and had four days to build and complete a winter themed model. I selected a Warmachine model from the Khador range. This would be the last model from a previous commission for a friend of mine. As I have already painted the rest of his army the color scheme would be easy, what was not easy was the conversion.

It had been a while since I assembled a Warmachine model, and forgot that they need either pins, putty or both to hold together. In addition, being metal models, difficult to carve helmets out of. This chap would be some kind of unit leader I suppose, with his hat and non-regulation weapon.

So, I had four days, assembled on the first day, it was off to a good start. Then I slacked off too long, he was finished two days late. On the good side, a good friend has a cool model, and I learned how to apply snow better (thanks here).

Enjoy!
Ricalope, SL.

Warp Wednesday Three: Inquisitor Bacardi (and friends)

Hello again, welcome to another Warp Wednesday. I just wanted to take a minute to thank all of the readers (even if you just look at the pictures), your collective interest provokes me to finish those dusty projects I have laying about.

Well, I guess I should start with the introductions; meet Grand Mistress Inquisitor Bacardi, commander of the Imperial forces on Odin Primary. Surrounding her are her current retinue, and behind, the Invincible II, Bacardi's personal transport.

I refuse to limit myself to ranges when it comes to the Inquisition. You might notice non-GW models and bitz here and there, such as the hammer-wielding acolyte (from the Warmachine range from Privateer Press). To be fair, once any model has reached my hands, it usually is immediately dumped into the bitz box (unless I have a project in mind). Any suitable bit, embellished with similar icons, symbols and color scheme, can see active service on the tabletop. To make this a proper rant (and I apologize) I must say one last thing; to limit your imagination is a crime, use everything!

Lets talk of transportation, spacifically a land raider named Invincible II. This tank is by far the oldest of all my armour, I have owned it three times and painted it four times (not including touch ups), the third time it narrowly escaped ork "ownership". For such an ancient vehicle it needed a special purpose, so it became my primary HQ transport. The varied icons, purity seals and other bling has been collected throughout its service, giving each a meaning and history (even if I don't remember the specifics). Upon the back (which is labelled) you might notice the modification to the engine block, proof that the Inquisition is powered by the suffering of heretics. This "heretic engine" has since become a type of signature on some vehicles (both my baneblade and sister's repressor have one).

Happy veiwing,
Inquisitor Ricalope.

Brood Infex (Warriors WIP)

With 11 hormagaunts and 5 rippers finished (and Frankie on the way), I needed some synapse. I have always liked the tyranid warriors ever since I first saw them, therefore my swarm will have a few of these guys. These three are the ones who get to stand behind the smaller ones, shooting at stuff and holding the line.

Yes, I know, warriors can't have feeder tendrils, but I like converting them ;p I count them as flesh hooks. Using guitar wire is rather easy and effective, and the plastic beads work well for the larger puss bubbles, (the hooks on the flesh hooks are from a very unfortunate genestealer).

This brood was also an experiment on working with the warriors themselves. I plan to make tyrant guard, ravenors, lictors, and possibly a couple of zoanthropes out of the warrior box.

Oh yeah, the third fellow (with the head), he is the "synapse node" of the brood. This has no real effect on game, just fluff, and I think it looks cool.

See you Wednesday!
Ricalope, SL.

Meet Frankie, My Slaughterfex (WIP)

I decided to start on my carnafex, (I am currently painting hormagaunts and puttying warriors), only because I am scared of him. I wanted to position the model with a more aggressive pose, so I started at the legs. I placed him on cork, with his hind leg on the "second" shelf (for that punching-something-smaller look) and positioned his body angled. To continue the motion, flesh-hooks/implant attacks were added, most of which sweep towards one side, with guitar wire and nid hooks. The head, a combination of tusked and acid maw, was angled in the opposite direction as the body. To complete this smashing pose, the scythes and claws were positioned in a sweeping posture (two arms having already attacked, two yet to). The mace tail semed kind of small to me, so I put both tail morphs as well as the wierd triangular bit (that is supposed to be on the head I think) all on the tip, and it seems to look ok.

The next step are things like putting toxin sacs on the jaw and scythes, adding the large pustules and getting rid of that horrible line on his carapace. (Don't worry, I will show you the warriors soon).

Happy Nightmares!
Ricalope, SL.

The Ruins of Alasraph (Battle Report)

The exodites of Odin Prime endeavored upon a scouting mission in the jungle of the Belt. Upon reaching the ruins of Alasraph, and ancient place of worship, tears in realspace began to open. The autriarch, with a squad of guardians approached from the right with a wraithlord, and on the left a falcon and vyper made their way towards the pathfinders.

As the daemons began spilling forth the eldar made their way to their positions. Sevorinia made her way to the pathfinders as pink whores appeared, torching a few guardians. The guardians and wraithlord returned fire, killing some, while the rangers were killed by the daemon princess.

The rest of the deamon horde came through, as they did guardians and the vyper were burned with magical fire. In response, a farseer and five warlocks disambarked from the falcon to wash the daemonettes with psyker flame (killing 8!). On the right flank Tzeenchian fire was traded for shriukens and plasma.

The falcon began hunting Sevorinia, who in turn began chasing it. The remaining two daemonettes and Kelly & Bee (the Slaaneshi herald) assaulted the seer council, who defeated the depraved deamons with only three lost warlocks. On the right flank the two forces closed, the furies assaulting the autarch and remaining warlock, and the wraithlord assaulting the whores.

The falcon was immobilized yet was able to deliver the final wounds upon the deamon princess. The autarch slew the final whore, survived the fires from the last flamer, then attempted to banish it in close combat. The wraithlord took his time getting rid of the whores.

When the dust settled, There was one lone flamer on the board, and a few eldar with anger management classes to go to.

Ricalope, SL.