Red planet board 1 Forgeworld Genatorum Nexus tile.

I'm quite proud of myself today, not long ago I did a post saying I was going to do more posts when I'd painted something and I've actually done so within a year! Go me! Actually within a few weeks. Note to self: do really exciting projects so that I actually can't wait to do them.

I started with the current end picture because I think it looks cool. Its been sprayed with a variety of sprays straight out of the can for those like me without an air brush. It still needs several coats of varnish to give it some durability and then some details, washes, highlights and weathering to be done by brush to finish it off. For those who are interested here comes the step by step so far:

These are the paints I've used for this tile, the one on the far right is a car spray paint and is called Red Oxide Primer. I totally stole it from someone but I'm afraid can't find the link. If someone knows the board I'm talking about please do add a link in the comments.

First I gave the board a good covering with the red oxide using shorter bursts and keeping the spray in motion at all times to avoid drips and splatters. I then use mephiston red on the generator bits. on Reflection I'd probably spray some Oxide red into the shaded areas where dust might collect first to save going back in with the red later. So a lesson for tile two!

I use army painter dragon red to lighten my generator bits and used army painter leather brown in short bursts to add another ground colour, focusing around where highlights should be, such as on raised areas and on piles of rubble. This was a lighter layer designed to leave shades of the oxide and to be patchy so as to break up the board from being too monotone.

I added army painter standard grey to pipes and the fans and other mechanical parts. This should have been the first step really but there we are, lesson for tile 2 number 2!

I also began to go in with army painter skeleton bone on rubble and highlights to add another earth tone and focus details.

 I went back in with the oxide red paint to add a bit more orange to areas I felt had become too bone and brown and to fix areas I had spilt onto with the grey.

The final tile again. Here I used the leather brown to tone down the orange patches and used the dragon red to tidy up grey overspill. I did some additional brown and bone over spraying to lighten the board tile to finish up. Its more brown than red but I like the overall effect.

I'm really happy with how this is going so far but I'm a bit concerned the simonz oxide red primer can peel a bit. I did of course wash all the tiles well before I'd begun, being forgeworld getting rid of that mould release is a must. So I will be using three layers of varnish, with plenty of drying time to avoid frosting and report back. I may add a spot of oxide red into the fans and red spray the grey gently over to look like collected dust too.

I hope you like it so far. Let me know your thoughts, tips and advice as this is the first project on this scale and my first board that wasn't a piece of wood painted one tone of green I've ever attempted and any extra information would be much appreciated! Hope to see you next time for the Manufactorum tile!

Praetorian Commissar with Powerfist

I present one usually painted commissar! I tried to use the colours that are standard across my Praetorians such as yellow trim and cuffs, dark blue trousers with a red stripe, and plenty of red all round to try and make him fit with the army but still have enough black to look like his rank.

Here's one of his back so you can see a bit more powerfist and sword detail.

I chose the model as I love the pose and the details and weapons are a nice nod to the old praetorian commissar model I have knocking around somewhere. Also I dislike the new plastic model as he looks like a pirate... and he has a chain from his weapon to his lapel. HIS LAPEL!

Sorry for the slightly blurry images. My camera just won't behave!

Praetorian 500pts Army list for escalation campaign

My friends and I have been planning an escalation campaign for around a year and a half now. It's due to start in March so I'm planning out my armies to ensure I've got the right troops painted in advance as otherwise it might not happen during the campaign and I'll end up in trouble part way through! We've got a good mix of armies included, with two tau, one iron hands, one sisters of battle, one tempestus scions/inquisition, one dark eldar and one craftworld eldar/harlequins (awaiting full releases to find out quite what this will entail!)

The aim is to start with 500pts and increase by 250pts each month after the first. Here is my first 500pts. The aim is to have good lists rather than abusive power gamer lists so we have limits on forgeworld and 30k units. One flier every 1001 pts and a group veto system setup with list submission windows and time for feedback. As a result I chose my guard so I can have some powerful chimera vet action and use my fluffy ratlings, ogryns and the like for entertainment value. I've painted these models up ages ago and rarely do they make it to the table due to their awfulness!

The list contains a command squad in a chimera, two veteran squads in chimeras and three ratling snipers because they're cool.

He's the command squad. I need to think up a suitable name for the well bearded fellow. Its got a lascannon and two plasma guns to take it to tau crisis suits and the like. I've tried to design my squads to be able to have a go at most unit types and this is no exception.

The three ratling snipers. With scout and being able to claim objectives in 7th these chaps might actually not be completely useless for a change. They will probably still spend most of the game hiding and occasionally trying to pull off a unit pin.

Veteran squad one. I need to sort out a base for the autocannon team I realized. They're equipped with an autocannon to deal with long range transports and infantry as well as a melta gun and flamer if they get up close and personal with any targets.

Veteran squad two. Generally I group weapons so three melta or three flamer, however in such a small game I decided to mix them so that my opponents couldn't so easily target the unit and thus the weapons they are weakest against.

Each squad has a chimera, they will be armed with multi lazers and heavy flamers to be able to have a go at anything going. We had previously had an ork and tyranid player so perhaps now heavy bolters would be better but what can you do!

My models are on display here on my friend Arthur's lovely forgeworld board with the GW building kits scattered across which will represent two to three of the urban environments on 3 of the 9 planets we have in the system to play on. Pictures of the amazing campaign map he has had made and the planets backgrounds to come in the future.

Any thoughts, ideas, or advice on the smooth running of campaigns or on my army list would be very welcome!

'The Jokers' chimera with squad marking for my praetorian vets squad.

One more chimera for my Praetorians. Its pretty standard for my army, the usual army painter leather brown and bone sprayed cammo. Copious weathering in the form of fresh scratches, old corroded chips and drips of sepia from nus bolts and joints for the main body. Rust and dust for metal and tracks. Some squad markings on the left side help break up the fairly monotonous colour scheme that's made worse by the track guards. and a few kill count markings add a touch of character.

Which led me to the right side of the tank, A friend of mine had a drop trooper army commissioned and each sentinal had its own little marking like a classic WW2 plane or similar and they looked awesome. I also wanted something to add just a spot of colour to break up the side of the tank and stop the eye just being drawn to the underslung barrel so I thought I'd give a squad marking a go. I thought a playing card might make a good filler, having a little colour but not being too large. I'd also done the weathering first so wanted something small to fit at an odd angle between my work as I couldn't really be bothered to redo it! I felt a joker with a droopy multi coloured hat could be easier to do and more recognizable without looking to closely. Also it made quite a good sounding squad name 'the jokers'. I'm not convinced its amazing but is a start.

At some point I'd like to go back and add other markings to my older tanks to try and break up the wall of identical looking units. I'm thinking the classic swimsuit lady should probably feature, maybe a snake eyes dice roll, a raptor head and a top hat. I've got seven chimera's, three leman russ and three basilisk painted. My Vendetta has the angry eyes and teeth. I've got another two leman russ, three medusa mortas, three hellhounds, a manticore, two hydra, two more vendetta, three valkyrie and four more chimeras to do so um... could do with some more ideas please! What makes a good tank squad marking?

If I manage to get a few more done and like them enough I might match some banners to some of the designs and do something with the six or so pointless banner bearers I've got sitting around.