Well Toronto Astronom-con 2014 has come and gone (been almost 2 months to the day). I ended up placing 3rd overall, which is a pretty huge accomplishment for me. I had 6 absolutely amazing games, against 6 absolutely amazing players (which is honestly the way any tournament should be)
In the end I walked away with some hardware, Best Sportsman! And I new group of friends from Stratford. Thanks Ridvan for being you.....and letting your old mates, and new ones take pokes at your heritage and dirty habits! (all in good fun)
So.....With Astro out of the way it brings me to a new year (my hobby calendar revolves around Astro so the Monday after is day one of the new hobby year for me)....or new Chapter.
You see the word "chapter" is a play.....It's a new chapter in my hobby book....and possibly a new space marine chapter as well.
I have plans for yet another space marine army. Big problem is that I'm undecided as to how to paint them. I have thought of continuing my Alpha Legion, however, I want to change my colour scheme. So if I plan on changing my colour scheme, my thought process is that I should change Chapters as well.
My choices are as follows:
Soul Drinkers (Purple with Black trim)
Crimson Sabres (Red with White shoulder pads and back packs)
Lamenters (Yellow with black trim with black/white checkered patterns)
Possible Choices are:
Pre-heresy World Eaters
Mantis Warriors
I will probably have the chapter nailed down within a few weeks, the goal is to have an army that can swing either way (I really seem to like doing that). It gives me the option of either using the Loyalist Space Marine Codex, or the Chaos Space Marine Codex. Really it depends on what units I want in the army (or transports)
As it stands right now, I have 10 terminators (loaded up as CSM) with a "counts as" Abaddon model, a couple of 10 man troop squads (either tactical or normal CSM/Chosen), a couple of 5 man troop squads, 2 heavy weapon squads (either devastators or havocs). Somewhere in the mix I can add a Storm Eagle (which I would LOVE to) and a couple of Ironclad Dreadnoughts or Helbrutes (they are Contemptor Dreadnoughts with double close combat weapons)
I will have pics with my next update (for some reason I cannot upload right now).....hopefully with a decision made as well......chime in and let me know where your vote lies!
Alpharius
Thursday 25 September 2014
Tuesday 22 July 2014
4 days.....and 7 models (give or take a few)
Yeop....feeling the pressure....4 days to go. I have my Autarch, and 6 Wild Riders left to paint. Little things like a second coat of white on the helmets of the Warp Spyders.....and if time permits some detail work on the Wild Rider's banners.
I have put some time into the display board. I have some dry brushing to do on the grassy areas, and then a coat of varnish (I like to varnish the display board because of the activity that happens with the magnets......I have magnetized the bases to prevent mishaps from bumps).
I have Friday off, and my mom is taking care of Deacon for a little bit.....so the possibility of being finished friday afternoon is very likely......fingers crossed!
I have put some time into the display board. I have some dry brushing to do on the grassy areas, and then a coat of varnish (I like to varnish the display board because of the activity that happens with the magnets......I have magnetized the bases to prevent mishaps from bumps).
I have Friday off, and my mom is taking care of Deacon for a little bit.....so the possibility of being finished friday afternoon is very likely......fingers crossed!
I probably won't post again until Friday.....with my finished army, and display board. I will make an effort to batrep each of my games at Astro.
Until next time....
Alpharius
Saturday 19 July 2014
I'm doing this backwards!!!
So in an effort to get ahead this morning, I started my display board. I was only able to put a little bit of paint on models. I was also able to clip the bitz that I need for my last squad of Wild Riders.....
I decided to go where my creative juices were flowing, and continued with the display board....I got flocking done, model placement mapped out, and supports for the second tier in place....quick prime coat, and about an hour worth of painting and this bad boy will be finished!
However, my models will not paint themselves.....and i'm only a week away....I just have to remind myself that I can do this!!!!
I decided to go where my creative juices were flowing, and continued with the display board....I got flocking done, model placement mapped out, and supports for the second tier in place....quick prime coat, and about an hour worth of painting and this bad boy will be finished!
However, my models will not paint themselves.....and i'm only a week away....I just have to remind myself that I can do this!!!!
More tomorrow for sure.....I need to keep pushing.
Alpharius
Friday 18 July 2014
Down the home stretch
9 days to go.....argggg.....9 days to go.
I barely had any productive hobby time this week. 6am start times have really put a damper on my painting schedule. That being said I have completed my bases and been able to get 90% of my bike riders completed.....which brings me to next problem....I have realized that I only have 3 squads of riders converted and painted.....not sure what caused that mental lapse, but now I need to deal with it.
So the plan is as follows: Assemble the last squad of riders tonight (I am penciled in for a game against Ridvan). By Sunday finish painting the riders, Autarch, and Warp Spyders.....this may be a stretch but I REALLY need to achieve this. Next week will be dedicated to building my display board, and getting my fluff finished.
My week produced 2 games. First was against Evan and his Astra Tempestus (???) allied with an Imperial Knight. We played a non-Astro scenario. Game ended top of turn 4 with the Saim Hann Warhost over running the Scions.....once again mobility and superior fire power have won the day.
Second game was against Justin and his Daemons. Justin is going to Astro as well so this was a great primer game for both of us. We played Field of Screams. Mission objective was Victory Points....the catch is that everything (except for a 6inch border around the board) was both difficult AND dangerous terrain. Justin had large blob style units that fell victim to movement. The game was a blood bath, Justin had about 350 points left on the board and I had about 700 points left on the board. In the end, I had a solid victory, and have assured my confidence level with the Warhost.
W6, L1, D0
I barely had any productive hobby time this week. 6am start times have really put a damper on my painting schedule. That being said I have completed my bases and been able to get 90% of my bike riders completed.....which brings me to next problem....I have realized that I only have 3 squads of riders converted and painted.....not sure what caused that mental lapse, but now I need to deal with it.
So the plan is as follows: Assemble the last squad of riders tonight (I am penciled in for a game against Ridvan). By Sunday finish painting the riders, Autarch, and Warp Spyders.....this may be a stretch but I REALLY need to achieve this. Next week will be dedicated to building my display board, and getting my fluff finished.
My week produced 2 games. First was against Evan and his Astra Tempestus (???) allied with an Imperial Knight. We played a non-Astro scenario. Game ended top of turn 4 with the Saim Hann Warhost over running the Scions.....once again mobility and superior fire power have won the day.
Second game was against Justin and his Daemons. Justin is going to Astro as well so this was a great primer game for both of us. We played Field of Screams. Mission objective was Victory Points....the catch is that everything (except for a 6inch border around the board) was both difficult AND dangerous terrain. Justin had large blob style units that fell victim to movement. The game was a blood bath, Justin had about 350 points left on the board and I had about 700 points left on the board. In the end, I had a solid victory, and have assured my confidence level with the Warhost.
W6, L1, D0
Until next time (hopefully with a finished army)
Alpharius
Friday 11 July 2014
Blahhhh....
Well everything that I need has arrived in the mail....all of my extra bitz, all of my bases. Now comes the challenge of actually putting all of the final touches together. Bases hit the priming station yesterday, riders have been converted, and primed (first paint should touch them later today, or tomorrow). Warp Spiders are primed and ready to go. Autarch is converted, and primed. So it looks like i'm in good shape......oh wait.....I still have a display board to build, and a fluffly story to submit with my army list.
I got 2 games in with the new list. One against Ridvan, and one against Tim (seems these two chaps are my main play testers). Once again the Saim Hann Warhost has proved that mobility matched with fire power will win the day. My game against Ridvan was filmed for a batrep, so you will have to wait until that comes out. My game against Tim and his dreaded Seer-Star was a nail biter. We played the Astronomi-con scenario "Damunation". 6 objectives that can be held by a model with a "hand". Hold more objectives than your opponent and win the game. Highlights of the match for me were a first turn move and destruction of a wave serpent with the warp spiders, and a last turn kill of both the Baron and Warlord Farseer.....fusion guns for the win!
W4,L1,D0 (This does not include my game against Ridvan....You will have to wait for that one)
So with just 19 days to go it is really time to put my nose down and get the Warhost finished!
I got 2 games in with the new list. One against Ridvan, and one against Tim (seems these two chaps are my main play testers). Once again the Saim Hann Warhost has proved that mobility matched with fire power will win the day. My game against Ridvan was filmed for a batrep, so you will have to wait until that comes out. My game against Tim and his dreaded Seer-Star was a nail biter. We played the Astronomi-con scenario "Damunation". 6 objectives that can be held by a model with a "hand". Hold more objectives than your opponent and win the game. Highlights of the match for me were a first turn move and destruction of a wave serpent with the warp spiders, and a last turn kill of both the Baron and Warlord Farseer.....fusion guns for the win!
W4,L1,D0 (This does not include my game against Ridvan....You will have to wait for that one)
So with just 19 days to go it is really time to put my nose down and get the Warhost finished!
Until next time,
Alpharius
Saturday 5 July 2014
Battle update
Well I started to feel the pressure today. Just under 3 weeks until Astro, and I still have quite a bit of work to do. I did get a game in against Tim today. Dawn of War deployment, Purge the Alien primary objective, and The Relic as secondary objective. He played a Spawn rush army....basically 3 units of Plague Marines in rhinos, a Lord on bike with power fist and lightning claw, and 3 units of Nurgle Spawns.
The army is fast and hits hard.....but the Warhost is faster....and well in the end was 1 model away from tabling Tim (I also had VERY few models left on the table)
I feel good about the army, except for the Shining Spears. I just don't know how to play them properly.....I know they are a supportive/counter attack unit, but I want to be so aggressive with them. I just end up handing my opponent a free kill point. After some discussion with a few players after the game, I have decided to remove them from the list and replace them with a unit of Warp Spiders.
So after 4 games, the Saim Hann Warhost is 3W-1L-0D. I will probably be able to get 2 may be 3 more games in before Astro.....and I would really love to have some momentum and confidence going into the weekend.
Alpharius
The army is fast and hits hard.....but the Warhost is faster....and well in the end was 1 model away from tabling Tim (I also had VERY few models left on the table)
I feel good about the army, except for the Shining Spears. I just don't know how to play them properly.....I know they are a supportive/counter attack unit, but I want to be so aggressive with them. I just end up handing my opponent a free kill point. After some discussion with a few players after the game, I have decided to remove them from the list and replace them with a unit of Warp Spiders.
So after 4 games, the Saim Hann Warhost is 3W-1L-0D. I will probably be able to get 2 may be 3 more games in before Astro.....and I would really love to have some momentum and confidence going into the weekend.
Alpharius
Tuesday 1 July 2014
I'm seeing red.....and it makes me feel happy.
It has been a VERY busy week in the Hydra Factory and at work. The heat has been pretty bad where I work and it tends to drain my energy levels (which is one of the reasons why I have not posted anything)
However, I am about to change all of that. I was able to get A LOT of work done on the 4 squads of Windriders and the Fire Dragons Wave Serpent.
So without anymore rambling.....here are some pics.
As you can see, I have changed the weapon load out on the Serpent to Scatter lasers instead of the Bright lances....it just seemed to make more sense.
What is left to paint:
All of the riders still need to be converted, and painted.
Wave Serpent needs to be finished
Autarch needs to be converted and him and his bike need to be painted
Fire Dragons need to be finished (they are base coated)
War Walkers need to be finished (they are half done)
Vyper gunners STILL need to be finished
Shining Spears need to be converted and painted as well as their bikes.....here are some pics of what I am doing for the Spears.
I have been able to get 2 games in since my last post. I played against Ridvan and his Whych Cult again (love the changes he made to his list), and played a game against Tim and his Guard....er...I mean Astra Militarum last night. Both games played used Astronomi-con missions. My game against Ridvan will probably go up on his YouTube channel so I will not spoil the ending. My game against Tim was HEAVILY in my favor....in the end, the AM could not contend with the speed of the Warhost and I took home a 13-0 victory.
W-L-D = 2-0-0 (I left out my game against Ridvan for suspense)
Until next time
Alpharius
However, I am about to change all of that. I was able to get A LOT of work done on the 4 squads of Windriders and the Fire Dragons Wave Serpent.
So without anymore rambling.....here are some pics.
As you can see, I have changed the weapon load out on the Serpent to Scatter lasers instead of the Bright lances....it just seemed to make more sense.
What is left to paint:
All of the riders still need to be converted, and painted.
Wave Serpent needs to be finished
Autarch needs to be converted and him and his bike need to be painted
Fire Dragons need to be finished (they are base coated)
War Walkers need to be finished (they are half done)
Vyper gunners STILL need to be finished
Shining Spears need to be converted and painted as well as their bikes.....here are some pics of what I am doing for the Spears.
I have been able to get 2 games in since my last post. I played against Ridvan and his Whych Cult again (love the changes he made to his list), and played a game against Tim and his Guard....er...I mean Astra Militarum last night. Both games played used Astronomi-con missions. My game against Ridvan will probably go up on his YouTube channel so I will not spoil the ending. My game against Tim was HEAVILY in my favor....in the end, the AM could not contend with the speed of the Warhost and I took home a 13-0 victory.
W-L-D = 2-0-0 (I left out my game against Ridvan for suspense)
Until next time
Alpharius
Monday 23 June 2014
Mail call.
Well my jetbikes arrived from Russia saturday. I have been really busy at work and really have not had a chance to do anything hobby related.
I did finish off the Vypers (I just have the windshield to finish, and the torso of the gunners). Not sure if i'm moving on to finish the war walkers, fire dragons, wave serpent, or if i'm going to assemble the remaining jetbikers (24 in total)
So....with just over a month left I am sitting at about 25% complete. I have a lot of work still to do....but I should be able to finish everything.
On a side note I have ordered my bases.....really cool scenic bases from bases4war.com
That is pretty much my weekend in a nutshell...I will try to keep up with daily posts, but
it may be difficult because of a busy work schedule.
Alpharius
I did finish off the Vypers (I just have the windshield to finish, and the torso of the gunners). Not sure if i'm moving on to finish the war walkers, fire dragons, wave serpent, or if i'm going to assemble the remaining jetbikers (24 in total)
So....with just over a month left I am sitting at about 25% complete. I have a lot of work still to do....but I should be able to finish everything.
On a side note I have ordered my bases.....really cool scenic bases from bases4war.com
That is pretty much my weekend in a nutshell...I will try to keep up with daily posts, but
it may be difficult because of a busy work schedule.
Alpharius
Thursday 19 June 2014
37 days to go
Great progress this morning....black got put on the weapons for the war walkers and vypers, as well as the markings for the vyper canopies. I was able to get the final zenith highlights on the fire dragons, and finally started the riders/drivers for the vypers.
The 3 vypers have taken more time then I really wanted them to, but I am pleased with how they are turning out.....goal is to have them "finished" by Sundays.
Any one that has paid attention may have noticed that I haven't started painting any gems yet. My plan is to wait until all the models are "finished", and then do all of the gems in one sitting. This allows me to focus on getting my models to a high table top standard....and if I run out of time there is no pressure to paint the gems.
On to some pics.
The 3 vypers have taken more time then I really wanted them to, but I am pleased with how they are turning out.....goal is to have them "finished" by Sundays.
Any one that has paid attention may have noticed that I haven't started painting any gems yet. My plan is to wait until all the models are "finished", and then do all of the gems in one sitting. This allows me to focus on getting my models to a high table top standard....and if I run out of time there is no pressure to paint the gems.
On to some pics.
Well that was my morning.....new post tomorrow.
Alpharius
Wednesday 18 June 2014
The slow down.
Just a quick update. I have hit the part of the painting process that is the slowest and most tedious part.....fine details. I have put a base of black down to start....and will hopefully get more done tomorrow morning.
Here is what I finished today....some black, and some masking to prep for markings on the canopies.
Here is what I finished today....some black, and some masking to prep for markings on the canopies.
That was my morning....some long days at work ahead of me, while we clean up the course from a tornado (pretty scary stuff)
Alpharius
Tuesday 17 June 2014
June 17th Round 2.....the bases dilema
Well 2 hours of putting my head down and getting some painting done.....I'm pretty pleased with the results so far. There is still some washes, re-highlights, and glazes to do on the red......but it is coming along. I am about 50% completed what is on my table right now (3Vypers, 4 War Walkers, 5 Fire Dragons, and 6 Windriders) so this bodes well for me completing the army in a timely manner.
Now then....the bases dilema. Normally I just use some cork and sand....and viola I have some pretty snazzy looking bases. Not this time...I really don't see that working for these guys. I would love to be able to make some "wraithbone" bases....but we will have to see....at the moment they are the least of my concerns.
Until tomorrow.
Alpharius
Now then....the bases dilema. Normally I just use some cork and sand....and viola I have some pretty snazzy looking bases. Not this time...I really don't see that working for these guys. I would love to be able to make some "wraithbone" bases....but we will have to see....at the moment they are the least of my concerns.
Until tomorrow.
Alpharius
Two for Tuesday.
I decided that yesterday was a good day to golf.....that being said I did not get as much done as I wanted to.
I did get some paint put on the Vypers and I am pleased with how they turned out.
I was also able to get some more Army Painter Leather Brown primer. This means that all the war walkers and fire dragons finally got primed (I should be able to work on them this afternoon)
Deacon is off to daycare for a few hours today, so I should be able to get quite a bit of painting done (hence the possibility of a double post).
I have a couple of games that are lined up this week. Ridvan (aka Skari) and myself are scheduled to play Friday night, and Tim and I should be playing Wednesday (if everything at work goes according to planned)
Well off to hang out with my little man for a bit.
Alpharius
I did get some paint put on the Vypers and I am pleased with how they turned out.
I was also able to get some more Army Painter Leather Brown primer. This means that all the war walkers and fire dragons finally got primed (I should be able to work on them this afternoon)
Deacon is off to daycare for a few hours today, so I should be able to get quite a bit of painting done (hence the possibility of a double post).
I have a couple of games that are lined up this week. Ridvan (aka Skari) and myself are scheduled to play Friday night, and Tim and I should be playing Wednesday (if everything at work goes according to planned)
Well off to hang out with my little man for a bit.
Alpharius
Monday 16 June 2014
Day off #1......it's Monday morning
Hit the ground running this morning....Woke up on time (good start to my day)
I was able to get all my long legged freaky deakies assembled, and "white stuffed". While I was working with the "white stuff", I was able to fill in gaps on my fire dragons.
So....off to the priming station go 4 war walkers, and 5 fire dragons......half way through the priming process....and Kaput! the primer runs out. Now I have war walkers and fire dragons that are half primed....looks like it's time for a trip out to one of my LGS to pick some up (i'm using Army Painter's Leather). While i'm there I will probably pick up some more Dark Elf Dark Riders.
I got an email from my Russian friend with a tracking number for my remaining Jet Bikes, and it looks like they will be in my hands in a couple of weeks.
Paint WILL be hitting my Vypers today when Deacon heads down for his nap. If everything goes according to my plan, by tomorrow night I will have the war walkers and dragons primed, and the Vypers will be at a tabletop standard.
........let's see if I can accomplish this.
Alpharius
I was able to get all my long legged freaky deakies assembled, and "white stuffed". While I was working with the "white stuff", I was able to fill in gaps on my fire dragons.
So....off to the priming station go 4 war walkers, and 5 fire dragons......half way through the priming process....and Kaput! the primer runs out. Now I have war walkers and fire dragons that are half primed....looks like it's time for a trip out to one of my LGS to pick some up (i'm using Army Painter's Leather). While i'm there I will probably pick up some more Dark Elf Dark Riders.
I got an email from my Russian friend with a tracking number for my remaining Jet Bikes, and it looks like they will be in my hands in a couple of weeks.
Paint WILL be hitting my Vypers today when Deacon heads down for his nap. If everything goes according to my plan, by tomorrow night I will have the war walkers and dragons primed, and the Vypers will be at a tabletop standard.
........let's see if I can accomplish this.
Alpharius
Sunday 15 June 2014
Slow morning
Woke up a little later than I wanted to this morning....that being said I didn't get everything assembled that I had wanted to. I have 3 Warwalkers ready for the priming station.....1 pesky long leg left to get ready.
Vypers came out of the priming station tonight and I will put some paint to them in the morning (pics to follow).....I luckily have 2 days off so I should be able to put some serious hobby time in.
See you all tomorrow.
Alpharius
Vypers came out of the priming station tonight and I will put some paint to them in the morning (pics to follow).....I luckily have 2 days off so I should be able to put some serious hobby time in.
See you all tomorrow.
Alpharius
Saturday 14 June 2014
42 days to go
I do this almost every year.....I say to myself "I have enough time"....the reality is that months go by in a blink of the eye and the next thing I know i'm painting at 2 in the morning the day before Astro....
Well 42 days to go and I am starting to panic just a little bit...it's really time to put my head down, get models built, and at least base coated.
Here is what I have on my table currently.
Well 42 days to go and I am starting to panic just a little bit...it's really time to put my head down, get models built, and at least base coated.
Here is what I have on my table currently.
The bikes are about 80% complete. Some gems to do, helmets to finish (they will be white) and some free hand work on the cloaks.
The fire dragons need some green stuff to clean up gaps, then they are off to the priming station.
In construction are the 4 war walkers. They have all been clipped off their sprues, but need mold lines cleaned and then assembled.....and then off to the priming station.
In the priming station are the 3 Vypers. I should be able to get them basecoated by tomorrow.
If I can keep this pace up....I will be in good shape.....let's just hope that my remaining jetbikes make it to me in time (they are coming from Russia)
Thanks for you time,
Alpharius
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