Tau Skyshield landing pad - Concept through to design

Hi all, it's been a little busy in my house catching up on University work and I'm still un-boxing after our move.  I thought this would be a good time to re-visit the Tau Skyshield Landing Pad and as you can see I stole ideas from the web and began to develop on the back of these images into a working digital modal.  I was torn between what I wanted and what it would cost, I knew I did not have a massive budget for this project, I also wanted to produce something that could be laser cut by a third party.  I had to compromise on the 6 towers, as seen below I wanted big thick towers but to keep the costs down I changed it.  I also wanted to use the top of the landing pad walls as Tau Aegis defence lines (for future projects).  

Anyway I hope these are inspirational for others, I have also put the dimensions on the drawing so if anybody wanted to create their own based on these plans they could.  Enjoy :) 

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?

Showcase XV104 Riptide

With armies on Parade looming I thought I would showcase one of my Riptides, I've selected it because I think it's is my favorite pose, it show off the thrust flames coming from his jet pack and another Tau holographic public information station, painted using my "Blue glow effect - Airbrush tutorial in 3 easy steps." I hope it's well liked and as usual comments are welcome :)

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. 

What do you do on holiday - FW Avatar Completed pt 2

I thought I would add some still images of the Eldar Avatar I painted, this should stop the motion sickness :) 

What do you do on holiday - FW Avatar Completed

Two birds and one stone springs to mind, why you may ask? as from the previous post were I had forgotten to undercoat the hair and the loin cloth before my holiday, on my return this would be a good time to actually bite the bullet and try a bit of airbrushing.  I had already decided I was going to use the Airbrush for the glow on the base, so it was a simple step to use the same technique on the loin cloth and the hair.  I now wish I had used it on the spear shaft, but overall I'm happy with the result I hope Scott is too.  Happy Birthday mate :)

So what is it? Part 3 Tau flying base

I just thought I would put a quick post together showing my work in progress, I have painted the torso and head of the Ethereal just to see the tonal qualities and I have air brushed the Barracuda a dark red, I personally feel that the contrast in colours will work well.

So what is it?

I have finally got over the come down from Throne of Skulls and the distraction of the Militarum Tempestus, time to set Chaos aside and start a new army.  I had intended on airbrushing my Riptides but I got a little distracted making this.... Believe it or not it's a flying base for my Barracuda, it's not quite finished but I thought I would share it, I am struggling with what to do with the plinth (which is made from the feet of the Forge World Tau sentry turret) - at the moment it's cut to the edge of the base, I thought it would overhang too much but now I'm not sure?

It's taken about a week to make and 3 and a bit packets of Milliput, I have used grey stuff for the head and the Tau Ceti flying base is 95x120mm this gives you an idea of scale. My intention is to paint it an off white which would create a contrast to the dark red Farsight Enclave Barracuda.

How cool are these Taurox conversion sets :-

Now I don't know about you but the new Games Workshop's vehicle the Taurox hasn't really inspired me although I love the Militarum Tempestus Scions figures and I had a thought of painting them like British Paratroopers from the second world War. I could use the Forge World's  Elysian Drop Troop vehicles and army list then I saw this..... OMG

4 wheel conversion set from 27mm wheel set http://zinge.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=18_59&product_id=143

6 wheel conversion set are from 2 x 23mm wheel set with 4 x hub caps 

http://zinge.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=18_59&product_id=226



Originally posted on Bell of Lost Souls http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2014/04/outside-box-salute-2014-special-edition.html I sooooo want one, or three :)

The conversion set is from my old friend Kit at Zinge Industries he told me months ago he had an idea of making wheels for the new vehicle coming out before it was released,  but I had no idea it would better then the original, in my opinion it's 10x better.  I spoke to Kit last night and he told me that the sets went down a storm at Salute and they sold out in no time.  He informs me he is frantically in the process of making more...

Throne of Skulls - Could this be the best looking Tyranid army

Well Throne of Skulls was a roaring success, 5 lads from a small town called Ormskirk in Lancashire, went to Warhammer World in Nottingham, had a blast and won a couple of awards, 8 in total with 3 or us being nominated for best painted army, Chris Otterburn, Dave Western and myself and Dave Western's Tyranids as seen on http://40kaddict.blogspot.co.uk/ winning the award, congratulations Dave your army truly dominated the cabinets.  Although I didn't do too bad my self, nominated for best painted army, I also won the Scribes award (with my Khorne Helmet), best painted Beast (with my Nurgle Deamon Prince), best painted Engine award (with the Hellfly) and finally I won best Chaos Space Marine Player.

Dave Weston's Winning Tyranids

Chris Otterburn's Nids and my Chaos Space Marines, just happy to be nominated :)

 

One of the things that stood out over the weekend was being drawn against Dave's Tyranids on the second game, It stood out because on the journey down Dave asked me for a game on the Friday night before the tournament, I had to admit to Dave that I had been ignoring his calls for a game and I really didn't fancy fighting his nids because they give me the fear, "I'm not fighting you I'll get my ass kicked" was one of the things that came out my mouth, this went down really well and we didn't have 20 minutes of banter and name calling, mostly at my expense, honest :)

 

Now I'm not one for typing up battle reports generally because I cant remember what I had for breakfast never mind what happened on a turn by turn basis on a game I had last week :)  luckily for me Dave writes up all his games and it's worth a read.

http://40kaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/throne-of-skulls-march-2014-battle-2.html

Chaos Shadowsword WIP part 2

Not long now..... 4 days to go before Throne of Skulls and still working through my army.  Although it's not in my list, this is my contribution to the Lords of War Painting competition and more WIP shots

Warlord Battle Titan, Part 5 - Last day on eBay and time for some battle shots.

My Warlord is down to the last 24 hours on eBay, it's had 2729 page views in nine days and it's time for some battle shots..... stay on target.

As you can see from these images the Titan hadn't quite got it's full paint job, but the lads let me go against our "no unpainted figure on the board rule", since I had only put the slightest of effort in building it for the game :)  

It's first game was a roaring success, in it's first salvo, if memory serves, it killed a Hive Tyrant and it's Tyrant Guard along with 7 x Carnifexes (using the old Apocalypse rules).  At this point the lads were regretting letting me place it on the board.

It's at games like these I remember how much stuff I have acquired over the years and how much stuff I have scratch built.  I think I have a problem, I can't stop building and creating stuff, it is plastic crack and my wife says I need counselling but at least she lets me play out, I suppose it does gets me out the house :)

Sorry I couldn't resist the army shots, which includes 8 scratch built models, Warlord Battle Titan, Warhound Scout Titan, 2 x Imperial Knights, 2 x Ceastus Assault Rams and 2 x Imperial Navy Lightnings

Any way that's it for the Warlord, tomorrow it will belong to someone else and I hope they have as much fun as I did making it and destroying all it's opponents.  Farewell my friend you will be missed.

Good luck and happy bidding........

Ebay:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40K-Apocalypse-Warlord-BattleTitan-Scratch-built-3ft-tall-/251453520684?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item3a8bcc3b2c

Cool Mini or Not:-

http://www.coolminiornot.com/351477?browseid=8224105

Warlord Titan, Part 3 - It comes in bits

I've had a little interest in how the Warlord Titan comes, i.e. is it whole or does it come apart?  Well from the offset I built this model for the intentions of gaming so for ease of transportation I designed it to come apart.  The head, arms, turbo Lasers, body and legs are all separate.  It will also mean that the winning bidder wont need to own a great big van :)  I am also considering and toying with the idea of postage, but finding suitable packaging or designing my own will be expensive not to mention expensive to post... but I am open to negotiation if people cant come and collect and are desperate to own a WARLORD TITAN.

The body slots on top of the legs.

I have used "4 x blue Lego Technical Axle connector pin splits" to attach the head.

The Turbo Lasers are attached by "2 x black Lego Technical connector pins" each and the left and

right arms I have used plumbing 40mm push fits with out the rubber seal.

It's on Ebay:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251453520684&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

And  Cool Mini or Not:-

http://www.coolminiornot.com/351477?browseid=8224105

Warlord Titan, Part 1 - The WIP shots

The time has come, I now have run out space and with the imminent release of the Imperial Knights codex it could be a good time to clear the decks and make space.  But what do you do? how do you choose? It's like picking one of your children to be given away never to seen again.  How does it make you feel when you have to give up one of your favourite loved possessions?  Like ***t.  

In the end it had to be the biggest, he takes up so much space and I'm always afraid of damaging him or knocking him over.  It's been 3 great years with blood sweat and tears at the beginning, I almost lost my left thumb in making him (I've still not got 100% feeling back in it yet) but best of all he is undefeated in battle.

It's time for the big guy to be looked after by some else and long my he be undefeated.  but before he goes I just thought I would showcase some of the WIP shots before he gets ebay'd.