Month 3, Wave 3, Let’s check it out!

Last month I cut it super close to the deadline and didn’t quite finish the whole slice for the month. This time round I picked my lowest model count slice to give myself a bit of extra time to catch up. Not only did I manage to get caught up but I also made a start on some extra models. I added in a Bad Moon Big Boss and 2 more plasma gunners for my Bad Moon boys I also got 3 Deathskull boys with Kustom Kombis. The wild unpredictably of these weapons is what makes the Orks such a fun army to play, and a big part of what made 2nd so enjoyable. I also love that the different clans mean something in 2nd. With the different squads each being slightly unique in their upgrade options. It makes for an awesomely ragtag and diverse looking force.

3 Ork Nobs.  154, Mega Armour, 3x Power Fists, 1x Plasma Pistol

Runtherd   18

Mekaniak.  18

Bonus models. 

Traktor Kannon   40

Big Boss.  55, ‘Eavy Armour, Powerfist, Bolter

2 Bad Moon Boys.  36, 2x Plasma guns. 

3 Deathskull Lootas. 81, 3x Kustom Kombi Weapon

March Totals:

Total points: 402

Total number of models: 14

Wachtmeister: Once again Georg has knocked it out of the park with his Orks.  The Deathskull Lootas are particularly awesome with their blue warpaint.  Still, my favorite model in the group is the tiny grot with the Traktor Kannon’s remote control!

This month I have 4 Berserkers and 1 Aspiring Champion to add to the Black Legion force
Armed with 1x chain axes, 1x plasma pistol, 3x power axe, 1x Power fist for a total of 241 points.

These are better than the first batch but still not where I want them to be. Unfortunately this month has been a bit rough with my house flooding from a burst pipe.

Black is quite hard to paint and give nice depth to so this is a good learning experience. I hope I can continue improving as I go, I’ll probably come back and retouch these guys later on.

Despite the disruption I still got them done to a ‘good enough’ state. Sadly not in a good place to take a nicer photo but it is what it is.

Fortunately it seems like we’ve avoided lasting damage and just need to cook the house with big dehydration units from the insurance people. Pretty unbearable in some rooms with it being up near 40c.

Cheers,
Psykka

Wachtmeister: This is a bad month for pipes it seems, first Deacon and now Psykka.  I’m impressed they were both able to push through to get their entries in and finished!  In the first challenge I wrote about “good enough” and the importance of sometimes just finishing something.  I think these Black Legion lunatics do the job whether Psykka finds the time to go back or not.  Great job handling adversity, I hope you survive the balmy metric system weather!

Starting to get into the swing of things now we’re in to Month 3 – so another good month with a nice chunky slice of models done!

This month has been a character model, in the form of a missionary, and a squad of Seraphim for a bit of mobility.

Nothing earth-shattering about either of these – the Seraphim were painted in exactly the same way as the squad of battle sisters last month. I’ve put them on some 28mm bases to help with stability, but I don’t think its particularly noticeable.

Total Points – Month 3

Seraphim x 5 = 175 points

Sister with double hand flamers = 10 points

Missionary Hero with chainsword = 46 points

Total points = 231 points

Next month will be a much lower model count – will be time for the rhino and canoness. Once they’re done then I’ll have finished all of the Sisters models and can move on to the Guard and remaining Salamanders to finish off.

Thanks,

Tom

Wachtmeister: Tom continues to impress with his brilliant white armor and his vibrant reds.  I particularly like the missionary, I’ve always thought this was a terrific model.  I picked him up off ebay a while back, I really need to consider painting him!

Hello all,

This month slice is a Mighty Champion of Slannesh in Terminator armour .

Enjoyed making this model, iv had the claw spare from a noise Marine unit I completed in a previous challenge and a left over Abby body in my bits box. 

This is one of two HQ units in my list and hoping the next one is as much fun 

Also if you are at a loose end please check out my instagram page @ebpminis

Mighty Champion 58pts, Terminator Armour 47pts, Mark of Slannesh 10pts, Combi bolter 6pts 

Total pts 111

Wachtmeister: Shepherd did a terrific job of taking a well known figure such as Abbadon and turning it into something completely unique.  I think the Noise Marine claw is very effective on this model and adding a helmet really changes the character.  I don’t know how Perturabo will feel about his sons admitting they worship Chaos though….

I embarked on painting three Chaos Terminators. Bringing them to life was both a pleasure and a journey down memory lane where I really came to really appreciate the modern sculpts level of detail and definition!

Nevertheless, this challenge was part of the fun. The older models confer a certain nostalgia, a reminder of the gaming days of my youth. I decided to embrace the imperfections as part of their charm. While they may have required additional effort, the end results made me smile. 

Wachtmeister: Mdixson just summed up the 2^nd Edition Challenge better than I ever could.  I’m always happy when the end results make people smile, and I’m thrilled to be able to be here for the ride! 

Hey! 

Forgot to send this in yesterday! 

Necron Lord 84pts 

Å det vänligaste/Best regards

Wachtmeister: Looks like our Necron overlords are conspiring as this is the second Necron Lord painted this month!  Don’t worry, I’m not getting soft, Flogger’s yesterday was my day before and so he was on time with his entry even though he sent it today.  Got it?

A bit like the threat of Chaos, I’ve been operating in the shadows this month, with quite a lot of work done behind the scenes on future models but little end product to show off here.  So apologies for a pretty dull and boring entry for March, just two Rhinos finished (sans hand rails and banners), a measly 100 points and I’m not entirely sold on them either, truth be told not my best work.

The models themselves were Ebay rescue jobs and in hindsight they needed more TLC than I first realised.  A few details with the builds still niggle the perfectionist in me and I wonder if a few more hours at the building/repair stage would have helped.  I might even go down the 3D printing route for future vehicles to avoid similar problems.

These are only the second and third tanks I’ve ever painted and I had delusions of grandeur, fully anticipating trying out some new weathering techniques etc. But when it came to the crunch I just couldn’t get past the old 2^nd edition, bright and clean, fresh out of the armoury look.  I also wanted these to match a previous Rhino I’d painted so I stuck to my earlier method of oil panel lining again.  It didn’t quite work so well but then actually ended up making them look a bit weathered.  By hook or by crook my final result is a bit of an accidental half way point between super clean and slightly battered/grimy. They look pretty good on the table top but a bit scruffy up close (don’t we all).  Maybe one day they would appreciate a glow up but I’m at the point where it’s time to put the brushes down on these.

On a more positive note I’ve now laid down base colours on all remaining models including a few bonus entries for further down the line.  It sounds silly but I don’t enjoy holding the larger tanks when painting, it feels like I’m damaging my previous work and my old, shaky hands struggle more.  So it was a bit of a relief going back to painting regular troops as a rest from working on the Rhinos.

March days painting: 17 (similar to last month)

March Miniatures finished: 2

2x Rhino Transport vehicles with twin linked Bolters.  One to be used for my Assault Squad from month #1 and one for a previously painted Tactical Squad.

Total Value = 100 Points

Challenge cumulative points total = 679

Challenge cumulative models count = 12

It’s the end of March, but not the end of the March of the Tyranids! This month, I had a bit more extra time due to a week-long work trip. Nothing like being locked in a hotel room for hours every night without distractions to make a dent in a painting backlog!

We completed four models from my pledge this go around, along with a few extra models that somehow worked their way into my painting space!

First up, we have three Tyranid Warriors with Lashwhip and Boneswords. These guys were a ton of fun to paint and pose – I really love the variety these metal models offer. Along with the three metal, I added three plastic with two boneswords apiece. Compared to their metal brothers, they feel much more static, but they add some fun variety to the mix. With these six painted, I have now finished all twelve of the melee warriors in my collection!

Next up, we have a Hive Tyrant with Toughened Exoskeleton, represented by the wings. The wings are from a contemporary kit, and the arms are from the third edition Tyranid Ravener set, but otherwise it’s all second edition, all the time. I feel the more modern bits don’t stand out that much from the classic Tyrant body and, size-wise, it works out as a perfect proxy for a contemporary 10th edition Winged Tyranid Prime. My hobby group is primarily 10th edition gamers, so this lets me get him out on the table to play.

Another bonus sneaked in from the shadows in the form of a Lictor. We never saw him coming! I think this is my favorite 2nd Edition infantry model to paint in the Tyranid line. The design takes so well to contrast paints and his posing is so dramatic. In my opinion, this model takes the cake on any other contemporary lictor.

Finally, two Armorcast Haruspexes crammed their way into the painting queue. These models are a lot of fun to paint and even more fun to put onto the tabletop. I love how their tiny beady eyes look out on the battlefield, belying their vicious claws!

With that, it’s a wrap! April and month 4 are just around the corner! See you painting!

Total Models: 10 models

Total Points: 1, 124 pts

Tyranid Haruspex (x2) – 500 pts.

Hive Tyrant w/ Toughened Exoskeleton – 174 pts.

Lictor: – 96 pts.

Tyranid Warrior w/ Lashwhip/Bonesword (x3) – 189 pts.

Tyranid Warrior w/ Two Boneswords – 165 pts.

Wachtmeister: I am rarely at a loss of words, but TJM has me close.  Obviously Mørk has the model count record this challenge but I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone paint over 1,100 points in one month.  That’s a full challenge in one month!  And it looks terrific!  I wouldn’t be disappointed if next month TJM painted a single spore mine, or ripper swarm but at the rate he’s going I’d be shocked!

Sliding in right at the deadline to avoid Sanction Redactus, I have completed my Grey Hunters pack for Month 3.  After using my mulligan last month to finish a team for a Blood Bowl tournament, I had to get these guys finished this month to avoid the cruel Curse of the Wulfen. These miniatures are so fun to paint but I can see why their many details and hard to blend base colors have felled many a past contestant.  

I can’t wait to get these guys on the battlefield, standard Space Marines can get so bogged down in Melee in a manner that does not befit their reputation from the lore.  I hope the extra assault weapons allotted to Space Wolves will help them cut down their foes with ease.  

Thanks to Wachtmeister and Dr TV, and a hearty to salute to all the fellow participants. They are so talented it is inspiring to have my models featured along side their gorgeous miniatures.  

Next month – Long Fangs! 

Jaurskald’s Hunters – Grey Hunters Combat Squad – 5 Marines, Power Fist, Chainsword, Power Axe, 3 Bolters, 2 Bolt Pistols  –            182 points

Wachtmeister: I’m glad to see the Curse of the Wulfen didn’t get Jon and he powered through.  Considering he submitted his entry 9 minutes early I wasn’t even close to the time I’d start worrying about him anyway.  Finishing what he started last month is probably why he had 9 whole minutes to spare this round!  I love his basing scheme and look forward to seeing the whole army with that sweet 2^nd Edition Spaces Wolves gray armor!

Another month, another squad of infantry.  I’m going to really need to start getting multiple units done a month if I’m going to catch up.  At the rate I’m going Mørk will have more painted Mordians in a month than I will all challenge!

10 miniatures – Infantry squad w/chain sword, las pistol, missile launcher, grenade launcher 142 points

This month we ended up with five Mulligans.

Hi,

I’m going to have to take my mulligan month for March. 

I converted and started painting 2 skorchers, but couldn’t get them done in time.

Looking forward to seeing what the others have done.

Cheers

Gazamataz

Wachtmeister: Sometimes a break is just what is needed to get on ready to rock in the next month.  See you at the end of April Gaz!

Hey there.

Due to family issues and illness, I have had to take the skip month this update.

5 harlequins are currently halfway done, so hopefully by end of April we will be somewhere.

Thanks
Jim

Wachtmeister: Family and taking care of yourself is more important than toy soldiers for sure!  I’m sure Jim will be back next month ready to roll, especially with a good head start on his entry!

Hi!  Month 3 zoomed past!  I did a lot of painting but for a mixture of projects.  I have a lot of 2nd Edition red Sister on deck but none completely finished.  I spent most of my month painting terrain for some retro Mordheim games and chunk of time on a cruise.  I will stop the excuses and use my Mulligan/ free month with the hopes that next month will be a little lighter.

Wachtmeister: I’m not disappointed that Master Splinter had to use his Mulligan this month to paint Mordheim terrain as I got to play on it at Adepticon!  https://wachtmeisterspatrol.com/2025/03/30/adepticon-2025-saturday/  One of his fellow contestants, DJ, told me he and his buddies helped a friend paint this terrain and it looked awesome!  What a small world indeed! 

Hi!

This month I am forced to use the mulligan: my second son was born, and there has not been time for hobby… As it was a planned event, I took it into account when doing the planning, so hopefully I will be able to finish the assault squad for the following month.

Cheers!

Jaime.

Wachtmeister: A 1:1 scale miniature is nothing to sneeze at!  Congratulations Jaime!  If you haven’t selected a name yet, may I be so bold as to suggested Wachtmeister? 

Sorry folks, I’ve been struggling with brush motivation this month. I do believe it is my first mulligan ever. It stings, but it is what it is. I put full responsibility on Michael Mörk for not setting up a painting day this month. ” 

Wachtmeister: I think we can all agree this has to be Mørk’s somehow.  He probably found a way to siphon off other gamers’ time and motivation to fuel his own.  How else could he paint that many guardsmen in one month?

I had to call Sanction Redactus on Manu as he disappeared in the warp.  I hope one day he resurfaces with the rest of his army painted, those terminators were a great start!

I almost called the Inquisition in on my location as I was collating all the information for all the contestants at once. Normally it’s a slow process over the course of a few weeks but due to a few factors I just powered through almost all at once. It almost broke my brain but I’m glad I proved up to the task. I will definitely try not to that again though!

See you all next week for the data behind Month 3!

-Wachtmeister