Monday, March 26, 2012

After almost 20 years I finally have a painted army.

When I got into playing Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy, some time back in either 1992 or 1993, I played two different armies. In Fantasy I played Dwarves (Not Dwarfs because I, unlike GW know how to spell the word), I played Dwarves because I like beards, I like Dwarves, and I still do. In 40k I started off with Blood Angels, probably because they were included in the box and because they had this mystique about them of being freakish space vampires.

When you are that age, things like that are cool.

At that age I picked up a single GW paint set and started painting, first on marines, then on the Dwarves, then on marines, etc etc. But never did I stick with one project for long enough to actually finish it. Sure I would finish whole units of Dwarves, one time I finished a unit of Spearmen with a total of 30 guys in it. But I never finished an army, I still have that Dwarf army, and it is still not fully painted. Those Blood Angels have long since vanished from my collection for the most part, either in trades, into the trash, or what have you, I honestly don't know anymore.

But right around 1996 or so, I started painting an Iron Warriors Chaos Marine army because, hey, siege warfare is cool. And that army I did nearly finish, only needing to finish the Berzerkers and some other random bits of stuff to be finished. Then I stopped playing 40k for about three years, came back, played my gray plastic Imperial Guard heavily, and then after my Iron Warriors walked away, I started rebuilding them, only this time, I had a plan.

Like so many others, I fell onto the Pre-Heresy bandwagon, and while some went with just painting a space marine army in the colors of the old Death Guard, I went a different route. I started converting each and every single one of the Iron Warriors in the army. Each figure had weapon swaps, hand swaps, back pack swaps, head swaps, removal of Imperial Eagles, and more. Each and every single one of the guys I was building had extra effort beyond what I would have ever imagined doing for a single rank and file trooper.

And this past Thursday, I finished it. I painted the last of the Iron Warriors I have done at this point. I finished them one and all.

Now, that doesn't mean I won't be building more, painting more, and expanding quite a lot, but the basic core of the army, the troops, the heavy support, the transports, the leaders, and the elites are all done.

So, allow me to proudly present the first army I have ever actually started, continued, and finished in my nearly 20 years of playing Games Workshop games. I give you...


The Iron Warriors of the 9th Grand Company.















Next up, doing two more Warsmith conversions from Techmarines, Two Razorbacks, and then 30 of the Forge World jump marines.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Yeah, it's been a bit. Not really sorry about that.

Sorry about not posting, been working feverishly trying to get ready for the Tournament season, which for me kicks off on Saturday with me going to Maul in the Mall.

My final to do list consists of the following for Maul in the Mall.

6 Rhino's. Painted, Dipped, Sealed. Done.
6 Squads. Fully done except for 1 which needs basing.
2 Rune Priests. Painted, Dipped. Waiting until tomorrow night and sealing then basing.
6 Wolf Standards. Painted, Dipped. 5 sealed, waiting on 1 to dry before sealing tomorrow night, followed by basing.
2 Choosers of the Slain. Painted, Dipped, Sealed. Needs basing.
3 Missile Launchers, Painted, Dipped. Will seal tomorrow night followed by basing.

Total to do tomorrow night. Seal the Rune Priests and everything in the above list. All painting is finished, just need to finish the seals/anti-shine on the stuff listed already and then I have to base 17 marines. Considering my basing is quick and dirty, I expect it will all be done in about 2 hours or so. After that is complete, the Maul in the Mall army is 100% done.

Adepticon to do list.
2 more Rune Priests, 2 more Choosers of the Slain, 2 Razorbacks, 1 Meltagun, 3 Dedicated Long Fang Sergeants, 6 new Sergeants with Powerfists and Combimelta.

Display Board. Needs to be completed.

Pictures... yeah, we know that'll happen eventually.

Looks like the Iron Warriors are nearly done for their current stage of readiness.

Iron Within, Iron Without

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Finished painting those Marines

All but one of the marines I spoke about a few days ago are currently fully painted, dipped, and sitting in a nice ventilated area drying.

It rained like crazy here yesterday and most of today, which is why when the rain was done, and I got home, I scrambled to get them all dipped.

Looks like that's done.

Tomorrow, Rhino number 1.

Wish me luck.

Pictures will appear once they dry and have received their coat of anti-shine.

Iron Within, Iron Without.