The last of the actual Sisters of Battle models have been finished off in Month 4 – so that’s no more white armour to paint!

This month its been the Canoness as the army commander and some transport in the form of a Rhino. The Canoness was painted exactly the same as the other troops (Sisters and Seraphim) but I’m running out of my trusty Dullcote varnish so tried some of GW’s Munitorum instead – not quite as good (slightly dull metallics, but still weirdly shiny cloth) but possibly worth some perseverance.

The Rhino was rather more work – not necessarily in the painting but in the preparation. This came as part of a job lot from eBay and was in a proper state (don’t look at the underside where I’ve hidden most of the issues!). I ended up breaking it down as much as possible and then reassembling. There was more filler used than a back-street body shop, but its turned out pretty well with the addition of a few modern parts from the current Deimos version. Certainly much better than the rather knackered starting point!

Total Points – Month 4

Canoness (power sword, plasma pistol rosarius, purity seal, melta & frag grenades) = 121 points

Rhino = 50 points

Technically the last slice next month – and I need to finish the most models I’ve ever managed for a challenge – 5 space marines and 10 guardsmen! Should be interesting!!! Hopefully I’ll get them done as I’ll then be able to devote the last month to a bonus terrain piece.

Thanks,

Tom

Wachtmeister: Wow, this entry is breathtaking.  Tom has produced some of the cleanest white armor I have ever seen, he really pulled out all the stops on this one.  I like that his Canoness has the same skin tone as his Salamanders, looks like a great way to tie the two elements of his force together!

This month I packed up and moved house! So it made everything a little tricky for me. But I painted something… not on my original list.

Five Ratling Snipers. These are the original guys from Rogue trader, I wasn’t aware of them until after I had purchased them, I just liked them and picked them up. 

Colour wise, I went for a Necromunda Spiders uniform of grey/black. 

Ratling Snipers – 80pts

Five models total this month.

Wachtmeister: Black and grey Rogue Trader models with red elements?  Vectis better watch out or his little snipers will be conscripted for the Orphidian 23rd, err 7^th by Maddix!  These are terrific models, and by today’s standard they sure are tiny but they still look good!

Month #4

This was meant to be THE month when I submitted a full unit of 10 glorious, metal Devastator, Space Marines to make even the Emperor himself proud.  But alas, despite being well ahead of schedule up until the last week, it just wasn’t meant to be.  Real life kicks you in the teeth and alongside a bit of burn out, I’m made to settle for just the usual 5 miniatures.  But at least it’s the exciting ones with the big chonky weapons thrown across their shoulders right! Originally I planned to paint the boring bolter guys first but who can resist some old school ‘eavy metal.

I love these minis to look at, but as discussed in January I hated building them.  If you look closely you can see quite a few mistakes where the arms and back packs didn’t play ball.  At least two of them required full surgery this month again, having seen them explode across the painting table after the most delicate of touches.  I tried to pin them, it didn’t end well, so I’m not sure that they will be seeing any action on a battlefield any time soon.  They might just get wrapped in bubble wrap and put into overwatch on the shelf for the foreseeable.

I literally broke the Sergeant’s banner pole as he lined up on parade for photos, so that will require attention at the start of next month.  I’m happy with how these turned out but I’m not seeing many improvements in my painting.  I am still getting that nice, warm, fuzzy feeling for finishing models as part of the challenge but I must admit to having more fun painting other projects throughout April.  I’m starting to check out in my head and yearning to stop painting Space Marines.  Hopefully I can finish up the last two combat squads next month and then some bonus models can re-ignite my interest.

 April days painting: 20 (a slight increase to last month)

 April Miniatures finished: 5

1x Space Marine, Devastator, Combat Squad equipped with bolters, bolt pistols, frag grenades and power armour plus in addition: 1x Marine carries a Heavy Lascannon (+45pts), 1x Marine carries a Heavy Bolter (+15pts), 1x Marine carries a missile Launcher (+45pts) and 1x Marine carries a Heavy Plasma Gun (+40pts)

Total Value = 295 Points

Challenge cumulative points total = 974

Challenge cumulative models count = 17

Wachtmeister: I know the feeling of getting midway through the challenge and wanting to paint something else, but you’ll probably hear more about that when I write my post.  So enough about me, how about TJ?  Five yellow marines is nothing to sneeze at and he did a really sharp job with his yellow as always.  I’m looking forward to seeing the army all together!

Really quick rush job at the last minute.  Not the paint jobs, but I did the basing late and don’t have time to do this entry well.

1 squad of knightmare miniatures chaos marines.  Such a mixed bag of figured that I have painted them as khorne, nurgle, tzeench and slannesh and they will be divided into other squads.  The 5th I painted malal as a promise (really came out well).

Bonus great unclean one, can’t look up his point value right now.  Really pleased with how it turned out – though a much brighter green than most would do.  Limited edition Tony Ackland / Drew Day Williams collaboration and very glad I got it.

Chaos Marines with Missile launcher and plasma missiles 165 points

Great Unclean One 275 points

Wachtmeister: These Knightmare Chaos Marines are nice chunky sculpts, they really dwarf their bases.  Choosing to paint them all in the style of different Chaos gods is a really fun idea, and they all came out looking unique but with some common colors across the models they look unified as well.  That Great Unclean One looks nice and gross too.  I love how we’ve had three contestents this month paint demons of Nurgle and they all look gross in their own different ways! 

Nothing I can say that I haven’t said before, this is the last of the terminators,  next is the dreadnought.  Been a hectic week, ph levels in my aquarium spiked and I lost one of my “favorite” axolotl his name was axle.  Rip buddy other than that secured my tickets and hotel for nova and I can’t wait to play heresy to my hearts content. 

Dj

Wachtmeister: DJ is really grinding through his terminators, I bet by the end of this challenge he’ll have had enough painting the chunky boys and their trim!  I’m sorry to hear about the loss of Axel.  Axolotl are creatures of the warp so I’m sure he’ll be looking over DJ and his progress!  With the problems the NOVA Open was having with their registration maybe Axel is already helping DJ!

As they say in 40k on Tyran, April showers may bring… Tyranids?

We have a ranged brood this month with a little smattering of everything – Venom Cannons, Devourers, Barbed Stranglers, Deathspitters – even a Spinefist. While that last one isn’t quite list legal, it looks amazing and I was missing a left arm. The reclamation pools yield wild and wonderful tyranid varieties!

I am particularly pleased with my minor venom cannon conversion. To make it, I cut the shoulder pads off a Hive Tyrant’s cannon. Some pinning and a little green stuff later, and I have a perfectly serviceable venom cannon variant giving the sculpts some variety.

Speaking of variety, I added some bonus, plastic warriors to the recipe this month. These mixed in some extra metal weapons I had instead of the standard, plastic deathspitters. I give M4crodutch the credit for this – it wasn’t in this challenge, but on some other blog somewhere out there, I saw some Tyranids painted in his scheme from last year. They were the metal warriors but equipped with the (I believe) plastic deathspitters. I figured why not work it the other way? Sure enough, they fit!

Anyway, two more months, gents! Good luck and keep hobbying strong!

Month 04:

Two Warriors with Venom Cannons – 176 pts.

Two Warriors with Devourers – 114 pts.

One Warrior with Barbed Strangler – 79 pts.

One Warrior with a Deathspitter – 61 pts.

Total Models: 6

Total Points: 430

Wachtmeister: I like the subtle conversions TJM has done on this entry, it helps add some variety to some otherwise mono pose figures.  He is also leaning into the tactical rock craze with this army which adds some height to his models which I like!

In March/April I got distracted with painting an Imperial Fists army for a tournament. Which, as usual, took way longer than expected. 

But I did get these Scorchers converted and painted. They are the plastic wartraks with some killer kan turrets. With some extra bits and pieces to orkify them up! Really happy with how they have come up. 

Buggies or a Battle Wagon for May. Not sure which yet.

Scorcher – 50pts x2

100pts.

Wachtmeister: Not only did Gazamataz get his entry in he also managed to paint an entire Imperial Fists army?  That’s crazy production!  From the thumbnail I could tell something was “wrong” about these Scorchers but when I opened the picture I realized there was nothing wrong at all, it was simply Orky ingenuity! 

Once again filing at the deadline, I have finished my Long Fangs pack for Month 4.  Adding some serious firepower to my fledgling Space Wolves army, these Long Fangs will be able to keep the enemy ducking while my Grey Hunters advance.  Long Fangs have even more great details sculpted on them then the gray hunters so it was hard to find a place to stop with these miniatures. It always seemed like there were a few more details to try and pick out or highlight.

My Dark Angels Devastator squad from previous challenges has the classic one of each heavy weapon configuration seen often in white dwarf issues of the era. However, having played many games with that squad, I think I will prefer this Long Fangs squad with the concentration of two missile launchers and two heavy bolters that has the potential to be more in-game effective.  I went a little more vibrant than even the Codex scheme because at this point my 30-year-old memories of second edition influence the way I paint these things as much as the actual photos from the era do.  Sometimes I think I want to make every miniature look as bright as the Fire Dragon fusion gun. 
Thanks to Wachtmeister and Dr TV, and great job to everyone painting many more miniatures than me every month.
Next month – Wolf Guard!

Draugrheart’s Teeth – Long Fangs Pack – Wolf Guard Champion and 4 Marines, Power Axe, Flamer, Hvy Bolter x2, Missile Launcher x2                             291 points

Wachtmeister: Does Jon dream in black and white?  No, he dreams in 2^nd Edition!  My favorite part of this unit is the power axe on the Sergeant, the crackling lightning effect is really well done.  It will be interesting to see if this weapon layout is more efficient than his Dark Angels one of everything.  I know my tanks will be a bit concerned of those missile launchers!  Although for this challenge I haven’t actually pledged any tanks, so I guess my infantry is in real trouble if they have to soak up two heavy bolters and frag missiles!

The second half of the Harlequins squad, at 202 points, making a full 10 man squad, meaning with the great harlequin and death jester the force is now codex legal!

Solitaire and shadow seer next.

Wachtmeister: Jim has managed to use all the colors of the rainbow and then some on these classic Harlequins.  It almost makes me jealous painting my Mordians who are mostly blue, but then I take a look at the patterns and feel much more content!

This month was going so well until it wasn’t.  I was quite happy with my progress as I was almost finished with my command squad and autocannon heavy weapon squad.  I distinctly remembered thinking “wow, I’m going to finish this easy” and then looking over and realizing while the command squad and the heavy weapon crew was almost done, I had barely started the actual guns.  With that, a family vacation, and the need to write the first wave of this months entries I had to just call the heavy weapon squad and save them for the following month.  (As it turns out I finished them on the very day I was writing this entry so I know I’m slightly good to go for May!)  This month I painted five figures worth a 129 points.  A little short on points but it’ll will do!

Lieutenant with bolt pistol and chain sword, 1 guardsman with comm link, 2 guardsmen with flamers, 1 guardsman with meltagun.  – 129 points.

Mulligan

Just dropping you a note to say that I’m taking my mulligan this month. Same as last year, April is the height of reenacting season, and the prep for that takes the majority of my April hobby time. Add in spring break travel with the family, and I would just do a disservice to my Orks to even attempt painting. I’m sure next year will be the same.

The upshot is I’ll be posting some new Greek reenacting content to my blog soon! For example, I finished building a new horsehair crest this month (photo attached).

This weekend is a timeline reenacting event at Fort Loudoun, PA, and our Greek group will be in attendance. We’ll have 30 hoplites in attendance, plus other reenacting groups from Roman, colonial, WWs 1&2, and more. It’s a big one, hence the month-long prep. If you or the boys are interested in ancient history (and of course you are), you should stop by and check it out.

Wachtmeister: Sadly I couldn’t make the reenactment, but since I was soaking up the sun in Florida I’ll call it a win!  Even when PygmyHippo is taking a mulligan he is making something cool and I couldn’t help but show off his new horsehair crest!  I wonder if he would ever make a High Elf helm.  I’m wondering what he could be talking about happening “next year”….

I must apologise as I was unable to get the models painted. 

Real life got in the way. 

But I’m back for the new month with some jetbikes. 

Wachtmeister:  Real life can get in the way of a good time for sure, I look forward to seeing the Exodites take on jetbikes next month!

Wachtmeister: Looks like the Apothacaries have been busy during Mark VI of the challenge with another scout being brought into the world!  Flogger brought Baby Flogger into the world but he promises he’ll be back next month with some more Necron goodness!  Or is it badness?  I don’t know.  Either way lets all give a warm 2^nd Edition Challenge Congratulations to Flogger!

Wachtmeister: FE Warrior used his Mulligan this month, but he said he already finished May’s entry.  I love his work so I look forward to seeing it!

Sanction Redactus

Wachtmeister: Dr. The Viking had life get in the way and had to drop out.  I was glad and honored to have him participate in the creation he has kindly allowed me to shepherd! 

Wachtmeister: The light of the astronomicon must be going dim as Master Splinter was also lost in the warp, but with his mulligan already used the Inquisition must declare Sanction Redactus.  I hope he finishes his army at some point as those Sisters of Battle look terrific in their red lacquered armor!

Wachtmeister: The light of the astronomicon must be going dim as Master Splinter was also lost in the warp, but with his mulligan already used the Inquisition must declare Sanction Redactus.  I hope he finishes his army at some point as those Sisters of Battle look terrific in their red lacquered armor!  Edit:  I was able to get a message through to Master Splinter.  While he wasn’t able to get his entry in he hopes to finish his project anyway.  I sure hope he does, I’d love to see it!

-Wachtmeister