Canoptek Spyders Finished

I flew through the Necron Spyders... and I think they painted up really nicely.  I'm debating on whether or not I add any lighting effects and if I put any decals on them.  The sepia wash really tones down the teal color, not sure how I stumbled upon that combo but it ages the model a little. 

I've also started to add a bit of yellow at the ends of the green lighting.  It helps it pop a bit. I'm also debating on whether or not I sand and paint up the basing.... hmmm choices.

Today I'm getting my first practice game with my Necrons and rolling against some Grey Knights.  We'll see if I'm able to sit Friday from the pounding I'm sure to get! 

It was great news to see the first pictures of the new Night Scythes.  If the pictures prove right, a few magnets should allow easy swapping with the Doom Scythe.  Good stuff.

Annihilation Barge and Necron Progress

I just finished the first of my many Necron vehicles, the Annihilation Barge.  I have to say, the decals that were provided with the vehicle really made the model pop.  Unfortunately after looking at the photo I snapped, the focus was on the distant part not the decal so it came out blurry.  I've decided not to do any finish effects outside of the gloss on the greens.  Do you think the teal should move up to a semi-gloss / satin?

I'm about half way finished painting my first Ghost Ark and last night assembled the 2nd one.  This model with all the elements has to be the most time consuming model in the range for mold line cleaning.  Very cool though, it really captures the Necron themes.

I also finished painting an additional 11 warriors and 2 crypteks (minus their orb colors).  It's been a busy week.  My 3 tomb spyders come in on Monday, and I have a friend helping me with a "swarm cast" of scarabs in which I'll add real ones to the top. 

Here's how the project is shaping up.

Painted
- 16 Warriors
- 2 Scarabs
- 2 Crypteks
- 1 Annihilation Barge

On the Painting Table in Progress
- 1 Ghost Ark

Assembled
- 1 Ghost Ark\
- 2 Crypteks
- 10 Immortals
- 14 Warriors
- Necron Lord
- Command Barge

Yet to Assemble
- 1 Annihilation Barge
- 4 Night Scythe (hoping the model is launched in a couple of weeks)
- 3 Tomb Spyders
- 30 or so scarabs

Necrons: Paint Plan

I think I've heard enough Grey Knights hate, so I've been full speed ahead assembling and painting my shambling hordes of robots.  Here is the first batch of Necrons finished.  To help tell the units apart, I'm putting a little symbol on their shoulders.  This is a pretty easy paint scheme, and I think it works for the 'crons. 

The majority of the armor is a simple drybrush and wash.

- Base black
- Heavy brush of Tin Bitz
- Drybrush Dwarf Bronze
- Drybrush Burnished Gold
- Drybrush Mithril Silver
- Wash of Jade Green.  I'll need to find an alternative when my last bottle runs out!

"Metal" (guns)
- Paint Chainmail
- Wash black wash

Power rods, painted in successive smaller highlights
- Dark Angels Green
- Paint in Snot Green
- Paint in Goblin Green
- Paint in Scorpion Green
- Gloss coat with 'Ard Coat gloss

Teal Highlights
- Paint Hawk Turqoise
- Line highlight Ice Blue
- Wash Gryphonne Sepia
- Paint on little squad markings with Burnished Gold.

Basing
- Paint Khemri Brown
- Drybrush Desert Yellow
- Drybrush Bleached Bone

I have found that the new GW inks are truly shades and don't work for me anymore.  After reading online reviews, the Army Painter washes are awesome and a close match for Badaab Black, Devlan Mud and Gryphonne Sepia.  They're doing the trick for me.

Done, and simple.  I think almost the assembly (especially the vehicles) is taking me longer.  I think I'll end up using some of the Necron decals for the vehicles.  They look pretty sweet and will save me time. 

Here's the list as of now I'm toying with.  I had a hard time figuring out the last 150 points... I really needed about 200 to do what I wanted. I ended up buying a transmogrification cryptic to ride with a unit of immortals, and beefed up my non-farming scarabs. 

2k Necrons (I may not have the options exact)

HQ - Overlord with warscythe on Command Barge
HQ - Cryptic Harbringer of Destruction, Solar Pulse (rides in ghost ark)
       - Cryptic Harbringer of Destruction (rides in ghost ark)
       - Cryptic Harbringer of Transmogrification, tremorstave and seismic crucible (rides with immortals)
Troop - 5 Warriors in Ghost Ark (backfield holder)
Troop - 5 Warriors in Ghost Ark (backfield holder)
Troop - 7 Immortals with tesla carbines in Night Scythe (dropped off mid field)
Troop - 5 Warriors in Night Scythe
Troop - 5 Warriors in Night Scythe
Troop - 5 Warriors in Night Scythe 
Fast - 8 Scarabs
Fast - 8 Scarabs
Fast - 3 Scarabs (base for the scarab farm)
Heavy - 3 Canoptek Spyders
Heavy - Annihilation Barge
Heavy - Annihilation Barge

This list gives me one turn of night fight, a whole lot of twin linked tesla destructors (6) and a bunch of armor 13.  The Overlord helpss with the heavy stuff that needs cracking, and hopefully the scarabs can have an impact.  I just can't get myself to do a fully cloned/spammed list.  Maybe I'll go that route. 

Grey Knight Test Model

Yes, I'm sure I'll get a bunch of crap for joining the bandwagon and painting Grey Knights.  I thought it would be fun to give them a shot and it will either be these guys or Necrons that will be going to NOVA.  Here's the test model I painted up, let me know what you think.

Note, I did not do the right shoulder pad since that will be the squad specific coloring.  Additionally I did not do any finishing effects.  I'll do a satin finish on the armor, a higher gloss on the blade and matt finish on any "cloth" or seals. 

This falls in my faster paint style, so I'm not going for ultra detail. If I put my mind to it, I should be able to get 10 done in an average work week. Here are the basic lists I'm debating on for NOVA.  I don't have my army builder up so I don't have the exact wargear.

Grey Knights 2k
HQ: Grand Master with "fun" extras
Elite: 10 purifiers, 2 hammers, 4 halbreds, 3 psycannons, 1 incinerator (would potentially outflank with grand master skill point and combat squad)
Troop: 5 terminators, 1 hammer, 3 halbreds, 1 psycannon
Troop: 10 strike squad, sgt with hammer, 2 psycannons
Troop: 10 strike squad, sgt with hammer, 2 psycannons
Troop: 10 strike squad, sgt with hammer, 2 psycannons
Fast: 10 interceptors, sgt with hammer, 2 psycanons, psybolt ammo (would potentially get "scoring" from grand master skill point and combat squad)
Heavy: Dread with 2 autocannons and psybolt ammo
Heavy: Dread with 2 autocannons and psybolt ammo

It's a foot list with lots of bodies, and a fair amount of threats.   I like the grand master and his ability to help with reserves and give out scoring / scouts.  Nova only has a "main" objective so in KP missions I castle up, others I combat squad out.

Necrons 2k (air force)
HQ: lord with warscythe in command barge
HQ: lord with warscythe in command barge
Royal court: one cryptec with solar pulse
Royal court: one cryptec with solar pulse
Troop: 5 warriors in a night scythe 
Troop: 5 warriors in a night scythe 
Troop: 5 warriors in a night scythe  
Troop: 5 warriors in a night scythe 
Troop: 5 warriors in a night scythe  
Troop: 5 warriors in a night scythe 
Fast: 6 or 7 scarabs (can't remember)
Fast: 6 or 7 scarabs (can't remember)
Fast: 6 or 7 scarabs (can't remember) 
Heavy: annihilation barge
Heavy: annihilation barge
Heavy: annihilation barge

This list pumps out a metric ton of tesla and can control night fight.  The lords and scarabs can hunt down heavy armor while the rest of my stuff teslas light armor and infantry like crazy.  The problem someone mentioned is that I might not have enough room on the board depending on how big the flyers end up being.  It's also very spammy.  I might consider dropping one of the barges and one of the lords to bring a squad of spyders and extra scarabs.

Something to think about!

Adepticon Recap: Cool 40k Armies

This post I'll let the pictures do the talking.  Here are a few of the great looking 40k armies from the Warhammer 40k Championship.  With over 250 players, I'm sure I missed some great ones.  Enjoy the beautiful work and I hope they inspire your next project!

 

That's an inquisition symbol shining below the stormraven!