Grotesque commission

After a short time away from blogging I thought it was a good time to do a little showcasing and name  dropping.  It was at Blogwars 8 that the organiser Alex and I had a conversation regarding how crap, sorry I mean what little choice their was for the Dark Eldar player to field a 5 or 10 man Grotesque unit. Choosing 10 models which all look the same and for £15.50 each is not an option in my eyes and that is why I converted 10 Skaven Rat Ogres into Grotesques a couple of years ago  Which so happened to be on the board, being kicked into touch by Alex's awesome Thunderwolf Cavalry equipped with Thunder hammers Ooooch!  Even though the Grotesques where leaving the board in their handfulls Alex agreed and asked how I had made them and if I would make him 10 Grotesques for his long term Dark Eldar project.   

A couple of months later and some extensive raiding of our bits boxes, hey presto - we have another 10 Grotesques and all slightly unique.  Now I know what your thinking "so instead of converting 10 GW Grotesques you converted 2 types of Rat Ogres, would it not have been easier to convert the latter?" Probably! but they are so much bigger, cooler and more importantly CHEAPER :) 

New Dark Eldar Grotesques or Aberrations anybody!

Wow two out of three isn't bad and cheaper than buying 3 Grotesques, I might have to have some of these and start converting :)

P.S. sorry for not blogging recently moving house and university assessments have gotten the better of me, but I'm back now....

2 weeks, 2 armies and 2 events "Armies on Parade GW Bolton" and "Blog Wars 8"

Well it has been a very busy couple of weeks and I have to apologies for the lack of posts during this time, while I have had a lot to share.  Moving house and not having internet for two weeks has seriously effected my addiction - talk about going cold turkey and stressfull doesn't even come close. 

Preparing for two events and adding some additional figures in the last moments while trying to move house was a little silly on my part, but as they say, the proof is in the pudding and winning two painting competitions with two armies back to back and one of them on my birthday, has to go down as a major achievement in my life, I just hope my wife doesn't read this, I'll be eating from of a straw for month, but joking aside she has been very supportive of my hobby/addiction (as long as all the chores are done :) ) and I couldn't do it with out her and her support.  

Well back to it - as promised images of my winning Armies on Parade army in the cabinet at GW Bolton and more images can be seen on the GW Bolton Facebook page, thanks to Ryan for a great day, Ill defo do it agan.

And secondly after an awesome weekend at Blog Wars 8 with Pete Butler (space wolves), Ben Houghton (necron) and Dave Western (nids).  Ok true, I did come dead last, adding to the saying "those who cant play, paint" not my best gaming moment, but I faced some good opponents and some fabulous armies.  It's not an excuse honest, but I like to look at it in another way, my dice rebelled against me because my luck was being channeled in winning prizes, money and goodies.  One Wooden spoon and £5 later, plus the addition of £10 for best painted Character and £15 for best painted army, And that's not all I won third place in the raffle - Space Wolves Venerable dreadnought sweeeeet.  Then Pete won the second prize, the Dark Eldar Void Raven Bomber, and we did a swap sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.  Wow so what was first prize you might ask, only an Imperial knight!

If people are looking for a great day out at a tournament but don't wont to spend a boat load of cash to do it, I highly recommend Blog Wars and all for £18.50 and you get lunch, Barginus..  Check out Alex''s blog "From the Fang" for more details

In the mean time some images from the event enjoy :-

My Urien Rakarth and his followers

Martin's drop pods and terminators appearing in my back line turn 1, holy moly.

Dave Western's (2nd place) Awesome Tyranids 

Martin Waine's (3rd place) kick ass Space Wolves

Grotesque or not to Grotesque?

With Blog Wars 8 just around the corner, its time to talk about Dark Eldar, since the new codex has come out I have dusted them down and they are hungry for souls.  But the big question is what to select? A lot of people have been putting the codex down, but I think that they still have a lot to offer, moving the Razorwing Jetfighter to fast attack was genius and loosing Vect was horrendous.  One thing in my mind which has improved are the Grotesques, boy these guys were amazing in the last codex but now you don't have to worry about them rampaging off the board when loosing their escort HQ and also having instant death on a wound roll off 6, surely these are a must have elite choice.

Then I saw this post on Belloflostsouls Haemonculus Coven Supplement overview and this paragraph which brings back the chance to make them better when fielded with Rakarth.

"First is the Grotesqueries, which consists of Urien Rakarth or 1 Haemonculus and 2 units of Grotesques. The detachment has the Freakish Spectacle rule, as well as the Latest Experiments rule, which allows the grotesques to roll on a table at the same time Warlord Traits are determined. Based on the roll, the grotesques will get +1 Strength, +1 Toughness, Fleet, Shred, Rage, or Feel No Pain (4+) for the entirety of the game."

I feel like I might have to make another puchase of 10 Skaven Rat ogres and the Haemonculus Coven Supplement, this could get expensive, Blog Wars here we come :)

How awesome is this Dark Eldar Armies on Parade

Please share this to everyone it's awesome "Stargate Atlantis anyone" created by James Taro for Armies on Parade 2014 GW Woking and more images can be seen here https://www.facebook.com/taromodelmaker 

Showcase Urien Rakarth the saviour of the Dark Eldar

With the soon demise of Asdrubael Vect and Baron Sathonyx from the Dark Eldar Codex is Urien Rakarth the number one contender for named Characters in tournaments?  I think so but I have yet to see how much he buffs the army :) what do the other Dark Eldar players think?

The Dark Eldar Codex and the new Paper Airplane

Due to the many rumors going around the passed few days it's very difficult to figure out will be going on with the Dark Eldar codex, but one way to get round that is to buy the damn thing and suck it and see.  I know one thing I wont start spending what limited funds I have on the new shiny before I read the codex, including the new Voidraven Bomber.  £48 is an extortionate amount of money for potentially a paper airplane.  It's rumored to have AV 10/10/10 and when fully loaded the same points as a Landraider while more expensive to purchase "not good in my opinion".  True it might have some awesome and considerable amount of firepower but it matters not if it gets shot out of the sky by any intercept volley fire as soon as it arrives, which will happen due to it being a center piece model and a considerable threat if left alone.

Other rumors I have found bewildering and others I am looking forward to field.  No Vect !? What are you mad?  It has been rumored that it will be in a supplement codex, but come on that hasn't happened in other codices, again not happy.  But positives are the Razorwing Jetfighter moving to Fast attack opening up a slot in Heavy support  for either another Ravager, Voidraven bomber (if it's good) but what's really interesting is fielding up to 3 Cronos and Talos Pain engines with feel no pain in one unit ++ :) 

But all these are rumors and I've already pre-ordered my codex I'll just have to wait and see :) 

The New Dark Eldar Voidraven Bomber

Look whats hit the web thanks to talkwargaming.  Oh baby for such a cool model I hope the stats are better to warrant me purchasing a new flyer :)

Is it just me? But when ever I play, paint or see new cool Dark Eldar stuff all I want to do is watch Stargate Atlantis, bring on the cull :)

They're here!

They flew in last night and just look at the image of the new codex, sooooo excited about having a new model for Vect and finally the voidraven bomber, prediction are it could look a little like this:-  "nice kit bash by the way."

Baron Sathonyx going going gone.....

That's it just three weeks or so and if the rumors are true the Baron will go the way of the Dodo.  Is this Games Workshops Mantra?  To get rid of the last of the cheap unique characters that are not worth creating models. I think this will be a big shame, because these characters let people like me convert and play around with ideas and kit bashing, are Games workshop destroying the creative side of our hobby, whats your thoughts?  Anyway what ever their reasoning I hope you enjoy my showcase. 

Blog Wars 8 - My Dark Eldar are coming out of retirement!

I have booked my ticket to "Blog Wars 8" this November "From the Fang", but I wont be able to take my Tau, no Forge World models :(

But it does mean I'll get to dust off my Dark Eldar, once I buy the new Codex, write a new list from said codex "without the Baron :( " and have a few practice games.  Obviously I will have to complete Armies on Parade first.

The 2014/15 Hobby Season Alumni

I have been invited to take part in my good friend Dave's "Hobby Season To Do List" sorry it's a bit late I've been away with no free WiFi :( 

 I have had a good 12 months - finished my Nurgle Space Marine army. 

Entered it into Throne of Skulls and won an award or two.  

Painted the Forge world Avatar for my friends 40th birthday and I'm also half way through painting my Tau Farsight Enclave army for the next Throne of Skulls.

I have my work cut out for me if I am to beat that year, that said lets get started on my to do list for 2014/15:-

1.  Enter Armies on Parade in October as goaded by Dave.

2.  Finish project X for Armies on Parade, not stolen the idea from Dave.... honest.

3.  Finish project Y for Armies on Parade....

4.  Paint Commander Farsight.

5.  Paint a Tau Battlesuit Commander or two.

6.  Paint 4 Tau Riptides.

7.  Paint 2 units of Tau Fire warriors.

8.  Paint a Tau Hammerhead gunship.

9.  Enter Throne of Skulls with my Tau Farsight Enclave Army and get one player vote with my ultra competitive list and get nominated for best army. (no pressure).

10.  Complete my Dark Eldar Tantalus which has been in the loft for 2 years.

11.  Paint the last of my 10 Dark Eldar Incubi.

12.  Paint Dark Eldar Drazhar and Lelith Hersperax.

13.  Paint my last Dark Eldar Venom.

14.  Start painting my Vampire Counts Army which has also been in the loft for 2 years.

15.  Outside chance of this happening but... to have one 4000pts WFB army painted, either Bretonnia or Vampire Counts.

16.  Not to give Games Workshop all my money and also to resist buying Nagash,but he looks so good.  

17. And lastly but most important ....Not to get divorced as I have just realised how much I have to paint :)

That's my list and it seems I will have a very busy 6 weeks ahead of me including moving house, I'll just have to take it one item at a time and cherry pick what would look best for Armies on Parade, because they will not all get done in time, but they all need doing anyway.

Good luck to every one taking part, I know I'm going to need it :)

Nurgle Chaos Spawn conversion pt 2.

Happy new year to all, sorry it's been a while, I've had my converting head on and found no time for blogging :(  I'll endeavour to create regular post in 2014, that could be my new years resolution.

I mentioned converting didn't I, so not only have I converted/created my own Nurgle Spawns, but I'm also in the middle of creating a walking Lord of Skulls and from the remaining track section a chaos Fell Blade similar to the Horus Heresy era, the latter is just bare bones but the Lord of Skulls is almost fully constructed and will be posted next week.  I've also started the ball rolling for Novembers Throne of Skulls tournament were I hope to be taking Tau and I have already converted 3 Riptides, primarily I have altered the shields slightly to emulate the Farsight Enclave and given each one a new and individual head about 3 times the original size to bring the head back into proportion to the rest of the model, which I absolutely love by the way and I think could be one of my all time favourite models, hence why I have 3.

In the mean time I have more WIP images of my Chaos Spawns or (Maggoty-grub-leech-thingy) or (it's a bit spiky) or (I need a plaster).  I'm very pleased with 4 of the 5 Spawns but not so sure about the main head from the Dark Elf Kharibdyss kit, it doesn't seem to fit with the fly and maggot theme, but it could be useful for the Chaos Boon table.  All thoughts and comments welcome.

The spikes are from the Dark Eldar Raider kits and I used 150 in total (not counting the 10 or so that pinged off in random directions in the living room, never to be seen again, until I'm bare foot).  Each spike has been recessed into the body of the spawn, extremely time consuming but worth it I feel.  I did consider giving them armour plates on their back like the Plague Drones and I also considered basing this conversion around the Plague Drones but after watching Deadly 60 with my son, were it showed a Burrowing Botfly that grow in the camera mans scalp (fantastic and gross at the same time) it had to be spikes!