Chaos Marine Cavalry

I figured I'd try to mix it up a bit and do a simple conversion that isn't so original... putting my chaos marines on horses instead of bikes. I've always loved the chaos knights, their horses are amazing sculpts.  Plus it allows me to showcase some of the cool Dragon Forge bases.

I'll be running these as part of the Gorepack.  It's been a productive weekend of painting.  My wife gets major points for letting me paint in every free moment!

Necron Flayed Ones Conversion

I've been painting imperials like a mad-man for the Adepticon Team Tournament, but I needed a break with the cool new necron codex.  This codex is so  much fun. Outside of the Wraiths that are a little unbalanced, there are so many cool synergies and different ways you can play the codex.

I've always wanted to run flayed ones, they just weren't very good in the past.  I'm trying to stay away from resin if at all possible since it's not very durable with a lot of playing so I went with some scratch built flayed ones.  These aren't the prettiest conversions but they work!

I used a warrior box then replaced their hands with a small square of plastic sprue.  Then I used strips of plastic and made the talons. I did some quick repositioning of the legs to make them a bit more dynamic, then went to town with a lot of greenstuff for the skin.

It's not the most elegant conversion, but it'll get them on the table.

Back to painting imperials!

DE: First Beastmaster Done (cold one style)

I just finished up my first beastmaster and it was a lot of fun to paint. It took a little longer then I wanted since there were so many elements to the model, but I'm happy with the overall look. It was a good excuse to finally paint the cold one model. It's one of my favorite models in the Warhammer range. The model is the cold one rider, with dark eldar warrior arms, head and the slung rifle from the raider kit.

I'll have 6 very individualistic looking beastmasters when it's all said and done.  We have our 1,850 tournament this Sunday, and I'm working hard to get as much done by then as possible.  Unfortunately there is no way I can get all of the miniatures fully painted by then.  I still need to get rocking on my dwarf pirates... so much to do, so little time.

Dark Eldar Baron Conversion

I've been in a bit of a painting funk and having a real hard time getting inspired to paint.  So to keep the hobby push going, I started working on a Baron conversion.  Here's the structure that I've started with.  The wings will need some green stuff to blend the two blades together.  I did a bit of a rush job, but I think it gets the  point across.  I'll be sure to put up final shots of the finished product.  The cloak/head was a high elf mage.

If  I can get motivated, I'll start back up on the crew for the venoms/ravagers as well as the Necron vehicles I was working on. 

Custom DE Beastmasters (cold ones)

Now that NOVA is over, I can go back to focusing on my Dark Eldar.  In our team tournament lists we'll be bringing one pack of beasts.  I thought it might be nice to try something different for my pack masters.  I've always loved the Dark Elf Coldones, and thought it would be a perfect fit. 

I used some of the weapons off the wytch kit, but for the most part it consisted of arms & weapons from the raider crew, and the warrior box.  For awhile I debated on switching out the legs and torso, but I don't think the coldone knights are that much of a departure from regular dark eldar.  The scalemail on the legs of the rider are the farthest stretch.  Here's how they turned out.  They have a real exodite feel to them.

I'm debating on what colors to paint the coldone.  I'm a big advocate for limiting the color pallet in an army.  I do have some reds in the hair and plumes of the warriors/wytches so I think that might be the choice.  What are your thoughts about going with red scales?  Either one of two extremes for the flesh; black (or really dark red) or a light dneb stone-ish type color with blends into the red? 

I also have the hounds and flocks to consider, I'll be using chaos warhounds and flying rippers to represent each of those.  I need to make sure I bring out some purples to tie the main color (outside of silver) of the army together.  Choices, choices.  Color selection is such an important part.

It wouldn't be my hobby without some distractions!  At NOVA, my buddy Jeff and I picked up some Uncharted Seas models.  They were on sale due to the fact that the models are getting re-released.  I've always loved the look of naval combat and it will be something fun to change things up.  I can probably get a fleet painted in an evening.  I went with the Imperial Humans and Shroud Mages.  I have no clue how they play, but they look cool!  Do any of you play, and do you know of any enthusiast sites?

primed and ready to go!

The basement is almost done being remodeled after the storm.  I can finally get my workshop back in order!

DE Wrack Conversion - Ideas

I really want to put together wracks for the Dark Eldar, but I think I'm going to go a different path when it comes to conversion.  I've heard we may get new models in the summer timeframe but that's not stopping me from coming up with some neat ideas.

I really like the idea of having a gladiator arena in my display board and with that it would be cool to have different beasts and subhumans fighting it out with the wytches.  What better to be a good adversary to get butchered up in the arena then a counts-as wrack?  My first thought was to go with some sort of catachan base and add spikes, armor, and cruel weapons.  I just never really liked the models so I figured I'd scrap that. 

There are some awesome pre-made gladiators from Dark Art Miniatures but most tournaments require mostly GW based minis.  That throws out the easy method of just doing premade miniatures.

I then scanned the GW website for some suitable plastic replacements (plastic is so much easier to work and game with).  Two kits I think might be a great baseline for gladiators are the Beastmen Gor Herd and the Maurauders of Chaos.  Both of these have a dark look about them.  I'm torn on which would be the better kit.  Maybe ultimately I do a mixture of both?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.