Armies On Parade: The Iron Tenth

So I went into my local GW recently, to ask if there was any painting competitions coming up soon. I've only entered one before but it was a fun day, some serious talent about! Anyway, all they have on the horizon is Armies On Parade. Perfect! It's just the kick in the arse I need to get a bit of productive hobbying done. I have until the 23rd of October to get together a 2x2 board ready with whatever models on it I like. I'm going to use my Iron Hands, using this deadline to polish off a few things, figure out how to paint the tank, maybe add another character. Also, and in many ways even more important for me, is a bit of pressure and focus on actually building terrain. After two posts here showing off other blogs doing it the right way with stunning boards, it's time to get the proverbial finger out. I've been collecting bits for potential terrain for ages, bottles, containers interesting looking thingys, and now I get to use them. I measured a few of the pieces up and made rough 3D models of them to make a plan of the board. Here's where I got to. Now all I have to do is make it all...

The Hobby: Done Right! - Legion Of Plastic Blog

Today, after a lot of inactivity, I was compelled to write this post after seeing basically the coolest thing in the community since my previous shout out to the Painting Bunker a few months back.

Check out this amazing post on Legion of Plastic... actually, just check out the whole blog!

It's incredible, and as far as I'm concerned, another example of *exactly* what the hobby is all about, and what I think more people should pay attention too. Once in a while, stop doing the math-hammer, put away the calculator and working out MEQs, and just make some killer models to have fun with.

I wish I had a bit more time to dedicate to this kind of thing - hopefully I will over the coming months, but for now, go check out Legion of Plastic, and bask in the glory of incredible minis.

Cheers

Tutorial: Rust World Basing

I'm going to cover how I do my bases for my Iron Hands. I'm using a Mars-esque style, and I'm going to take you through how I achieve the effect. In this example, I'm showing on my new Iron Father, which is a sightly special case as I've an extra display element, but the technique is the same as normal.

First up, I mark out in bright paint around where the feet will be, this is because I  don't want to get any material in here that will interfere with gluing the model to the base. Next, I start adding the basing materials. In this case, I have a load of plasticard tiles I made for another project, and I basically chop these up to make them look shattered. Old bits of sprue are also goldmines, so I cut these up to at interesting angles as well, representing pipes maybe or some other type of debris. Also - servo skull for good measure!

 

Next up, adding the sand/gravel. This is basically to add texture in between all the other stuff. Here I've used some model railway material - perfect for this and cheep! Comes in all sizes and styles too. The trick here, I find, is to cover most of the original, plain black base, and overlap you other materials a bit. It makes it all a bit more natural, not just stuff stacked one on top of the other. Also at this point, I sometimes add Typhus Corrosion and Agrellan Earth here and then, just for further texture.

 

Okay, so now we're ready for paint. First up, simple black spray to prime it, and seal in all of the bits of grit and gravel. Next up is the main colour for the rust - Deathclaw brown. I find 2 - 3 light, thin coats gets this done about right. Sometimes it's a bit patchy, but I use this as extra detail and texture to the piece. Also, a bit of Leadbelcher on the pieces of sprue I used for piping, or whatever look like it should be metal!

 

After this, a bit of Typhus Corrosion, with a bit of water, just for a light, dirty, gritty wash of the gravel do help to darken the crevasses and pick out the details.

After that, the Ryza Rust drybrush. Just need to go a bit heavy on the area's at the edges to make stuff stand out. Finally, and soooo important, is painting the edge of the bases. Personally, I like black. I think for this style it works best, but other like to go grey, brown whatever. As far as I'm concerned, the key for this is it just needs to be neat and consistant! It makes such a difference, rather than being covered with rogue brush strokes and pain splashes.

So here we have my the final model, full painted and based. Hope you found the tutorial helpful, any questions, comments or criticisms are welcomed and encouraged!

Cheers

Smells like heresy... It's coming from Heretic Approved!

This is a quick post and introduction to a new site I'm going to be contributing to - Heretic Approved. This is a new site aimed at the beginners and people new to our hobby. It's going to combine series  of painting and modelling articles, lore pieces on the various factions from the 40k universe, as well as general tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid for first timers.

I've been roped in to help with some of the painting annd moddling side of things, and so far I've covered priming, base colour painting and edge highlighting. Some of the lore articles up there are great, and hilarious.  I love Scraps4Bitz terrain article too, I'm going to be embarking on something similar to these in the summer so this will be a great source for inspiration and help!

So check it out, have a browse around and drop a few comments too while you're at it. 

Cheers

The Iron Tenth - Part 6

Finally back with some models finished!

This is my second tactical squad I've done for my Iron Hands, and they will be the Second Tactical Squad of Clan Sorrgol. These guys are another kitbash extravaganza! Tactical, sternguard, various Forge World kits and I'm sure a few other bitz from the box. I need to revisit these guys, and all the others, to apply the clan markings, that will be a pain...  I took photos of the basing process too, but they turned out dreadful, so I've be trying that again on my next model - another Iron Father.

So lets look at a few more pics.

Assault on Black Reach meets Forgeworld

II painted in the cog: second tactical squad marking 

Brass etch II on forearm

Think the head is from an Ironclad - chain bayonet on the bolter too

Went with a heavy bolter for a change... believe it or not I think it's the first time I've ever painted one! Anyway, hope you like them.

Cheers.

Bionic arm from servitor

Another Ironclad helm and chain bayonet

It's been a bad couple of weeks...

... In real life. All work related, initially just crazy busy, but then last Thursday there was a system failure that, no joke, almost ended the company. We all had to pitch in and try to keep clients happy etc. Late nights, early starts, and frankly I got off easy compared to some of the guys. I don't know how my two bosses didn't have heart attacks, I felt so bad for them Not fun! Anyway over the worst now *touch wood*.

Anyway, as a result I haven'd touched any minis let alone paint one in about 2 weeks. I'm dying to get this squad done, but just to tired right now. Bank holiday weekend coming up though, hope to resume normal broadcasts soon. The pic above is where I'm picking up from. Looking forward to it, and I WILL do a basing tutorial for these guys. 

Cheers

Hobby as it should be - Shout-out to The Painting Bunker

Hey guys, I just want to make a special mention of a recent post by The Painting Bunker.

John over there put on his own tournament, focused on all the beat parts of the hobby, rather than math-hammer and ultimate army lists. This event was about fun, fluff, good company and breathtaking armies and boards. It's really incredible stuff. Take a look at the amazing models, and read the article. If you're intersted in great terrain check out the rest of the site too. Actually, check it all out anyway it's brilliant!

Cheers 

The Iron Tenth - Part 5

Okay, so lesson 1: Working on 3 dreads at once is tough going.


The plan was to use all my from the various kits to make some cool models. I'm pleased with the results for sure, but I'm not convinced they're particularly unique dreadnoughts. Next time I reckon I'll try for one that was a Techmarine/Iron Father in a past life. Anyway, this was a long project. There's a good bit of kit bashing and plasticard work on each, plus magnetised arms, bases and interchangeable stuff. This, plus general real-life things going on made for a long start to end process.

Lesson 2: Working on 3 dreads one by one would have been worse.





Having said all that, I think it was well worth it, and lets face it, if I hadn't done them all together they wouldn't have been done at all! Being able to paint the models in stages, all the base colours, first level highlights, metal etc in steps really sped things up. If I hadn't committed to doing them all together, and not rushing ahead with one model until the stage I was on was done on all of them helped keep me focused. Personally, it was easy to stay motivated on this, where as I reckon if I got one done, then had to start from scratch on the next one.... I think I'd have moved onto another project!

So, here they are anyway, all painted and ready to go. I want to go back and add names to them all, including the contemptor, but I'm going to practise that a lot before I risk ruining these guys! Not sure what I'll be working on next, not dreadnoughts though that's for sure.

Hope you like them.

Cheers

Ideally, I'm sure we'd all love a litlle nerd den at home, with a workbench, paint station and gaming table all set up and ready to go at all times. Well, I'm going to go out on a limb and say most of us aren't so lucky!

I live in a really nice, but small apartment with my wonderful girlfriend. One bedroom, living room / dining room with a kitchenette and a bathroom - so space is at a premium! I usually need to pack all my crap away every evening, otherwise I'd very quickly take over the whole place. I'm always on the look out for handy things to make my hobby life a bit easier and when I was out shopping with my girlfriend a few weeks ago, I found this.

It's a makeup or jewelry box I guess, cost €10, made of cardboard. It's the best €10 I ever spent! Look at all the compartments in here, each level is just the right height to stand a paint pot. I get all of my paints and tools, knives files, glue etc in this one thing. I think thats pretty cool. It could do with reinforcing, but a duct tape attack will take care of that. Anyway, that turned into a bit of a rant, but the moral of the story is keep your eye's open, especially when dragged into shops by your girlfriend!

Cheers

Slow progress, bear with me...

So it's been a kinda slow week hobby wise. Well, at least in terms of this blog... But more on that coming soon.

So here's what's on my workbench (eh... tank box..) at the moment: what looks like a dreadnought graveyard, dude with a sweet bionic arm and some rather garish looking chaps.  Beleive it or not, all of the laborious parts on the dreads are done. The black armour and edging is complete. Just detailing now, and that's what's gonna make then stand out, I hope. More info and updates on these  and everything else coming soon. 

Cheers

Victory Painting On Instagram

So I set up an Instagram account, where I'll be sharing the odd quick snaps of WIP and the like. Check out what's there at v1ct0ry88, and follow me if your feeling generous.

Cheers

Capt. Tenacity at Heretic Approved

Just a quick link here to a couple of articles by a buddy of mine, Capt. Tenacity, over at Heretic Approved.

The first is on the C'Tan. It's a brilliant read, especially if you're a bit in the dark about Necron lore. Its also pretty damn funny in places!

The second is on The Void Dragon. Now I'm not going to give to much away, I'll leave it to the man himself, but another fascinating read. Spoilers from the Horus Heresy novel Mechanicum inside. This is a really thought provoking article about the whole 40k universe. Brilliant stuff.

So head on over and give these two a read.

Cheers

The Iron Tenth - Slow Progress

Ok, so it's not been a very productive week, but I finally sat down last night, finished the plasticard detailing on the dreads, and tonight, weather permitting, I'll be priming and starting the paint.

I also got this little dude made. Again, more tentacle maker action, this time, I used plastic freezer bag ties rolled the green stuff around them, and the tentaclized them. This means they're quite flexible when dry and still hold their shape when you move them, and they're magnetic. Hope you like him, more pics below.

Cheers

An Early Happy St Patricks Day from Dublin! - Come On You Boyz In Green!

Ok, not boyz in green*, more like green boyz in yellow... but whatever!

This is another post similar to my space wolves one, where i dive into the back of my wardrobe to show off a couple of (relative) oldies - my Bad Moon Orks.

*Actually, the real boyz in green - the Irish Rugby team are playing vs France tomorrow evening, 5pm GMT, to hopefully win the 6 nations, you should all watch it. Seriously. You shouldn't be allowed to celebrate Paddy's Day on Monday if you don't watch this game....

So here's the pics. First up, Big Mek with Kustom Force Field. Based on the AoBR warboss, he's got loads of bitz from the deff dread kit, and large portion of the old gyro copter in metal. Love this guy.

This is a metal Ghazghkull, bit of a pose twist, nothing too fancy. 

Some of da boyz. 

These bike kits are so much fun... Man, I'm thinking about working on orks again now...

Koptas from AoBR. Awesome models too, think the flying bases are long gone, better make some real bases! 

Here's da trukk. Compared to, say, a rhino, this is a helluvah kit!

And finally da wagon. Skrew red, dem yellows go fasta!

I've another wagon and a dakka jet unfinished somewhere... Might have to did them out after that trip down memory lane!

Cheers