Land Raider

Grief! Four months have slipped by.

 A holiday and a welcome visit from Aussie sister meant not quite so much modelling but the main reason for the big gap has been computer problems.

The Land Raider is not complete as I've sent for some magnets to afix the top turrets and radar/comms ariel etc.

There's some bits of painting yet to be done, places I've missed, plus some highlighting needed.

Then the engineering of magnets which I'm new to.

I've enjoyed doing the detail work though.

This is for Lewis and there should be a Chaos Land Raider for Henry, too.

However, the floor and the engine are missing. Perhaps behind the freezer!

Don't suppose anyone out there has the two missing parts?

Fast Attack - Assault Squad

Now, for number one grandson, an Assault Squad.



Four troops plus a Sgt, all carrying grenades and doing their best to avoid loose metalwork in their chosen landing area.

Next, a tank for Grandson number two.

I've enjoyed painting these Dark Eldar for grandson two*.

I finished them some time ago but hoped to improve my camera skills before including them on the blog.

As you can see - I failed.

They come from a mega box so there's plenty more to come.

However, they are such delicate models that I doubt we'll use them in a game for quite some time.

Next project, five members of a Space Marine Assault Squad.

* That is number TWO, not ALSO!

Pickled Magic

 Just to show I've done a little painting when not watching little men run about Settlers 2 country, here's granddaughter's choice.


She wanted to be in with the boys but at her age, this Spell Weaver will have to be kept, ship-like, in a bottle.


Well, a pickle jar actually.


This is a Fine Cast model and though the detail is to be admired, the rough edges, bubbles, pits etc make me think - plastic every time.


Add to that the difficulty in getting paint to adhere, despite two washes in warm water and detergent and the silly prices - well, I'll not be buying many.


The trouble is, GW have you over a barrel if you want leaders and characters.


I'll keep an eye out on Ebay in case some turn up in plastic.


The other she chose was Isabella Karstein but she'll have to wait.


First some Dark Eldar.

Numenor - Heck!

Actually those pointy helmets are Minas Tirith warriors from the DeAgostini series 'LOTR Battle Games in Middle Earth'.

Highly recommended for painting instruction and model making.

They turn up on e-bay now and again and, even without the models, are well worth it for beginners like me

(Grandsons inform me that the soldiers are guards in the film)

Numenor 'Hic!'

All 12 done, though they look like clones of just two.

Also, a little drunk. That rush forward to strike the first blow merely makes them look as if they might fall flat at the next step.

I've tried to adjust shields for variety but next time there'll have to be amputations.

Perhaps even a beheading or two.

Numenor

Damn it! They are not from Minas Tirith at all. I'm embarrassed by my lack of knowledge of The Silmarillion. They are from Numenor. Not much point in painting them except for show. The painting I have done has them covered in dust from the ruins of Osgiliath!

Warriors of Minas Tirith

Anyone know who these guys are?

A while ago, I bought them via e-bay and on giving them a look, noticed the helmets are different from the current figures.


Clearly they are Warriors of Minas Tirith but none of the illustrations I have in manuals or old White Dwarfs show helmets with pointy ears.

They reported for duty, half painted and in most cases, only half assembled.

Time for me to devote some of my precious time to my own LOTR instead of 40K for the boys.

Lick of paint, lick of paint. Good owld David Kelly.

Dreadnought

Well, I've been really busy painting.

The ceiling in our smallest bedroom needed two coats, as did the walls.

The doors managed with one.

I also had time to work on Grandson one's Dreadnought.

He's not quite finished but I like how he's shaping up.

I particularly like the fact that the arms are so interchangeable.

Even the left, close combat weapon, could be popped on and off with a little blue-tack.

Don't like the base though.

Yeah, I know.

He's at 45% to where he should be.

I should have glued on the feet as he was standing on the base.

Next time.

A Gift of Grishnakh

One of the last visits before we closed the shop was from 'Big Andrew' and his growing family.

Knowing I'm a Lord of the Rings fan, he was kind enough to present me with this little fellow - a perfectly painted Grishnakh.

Thank you Andrew, that was very kind.

Whenever I look at his bright red face and beady little eyes, I'll think of you.

How is the painting going on?

Repair report

Work to be done but this beast is in better shape than when it hauled itself in from the battlefield.

No gaping wound on each side of the chassis, the tracks actually run under the front armour, not wave about in the air above it and it's even taken a trial run out in the mud.

The commander still looks bemused about the loss of his weapon though.

Further repairs will have to await spares from a new tank.

(OK. I've been slacking. Must stop playing Settlers 2 and do some modeling)

Vile Green Slime

Shortly after the arrival of those two beat up tanks, the supporting Chaos Marines came staggering back in, obviously having had a tough time of it.

Not only was there serious disfigurement of their armour colour scheme but the paint seemed to have thickened in places and been erased in others.

Many also returned with missing shoulder pads or even limbs.

Worse still, the enemy seems to have a new weapon as they had a vile green slime crawling up them.

Sometimes this weird stuff had reached their knees and even clogged weaponry.

Medics are trying to save them.

(The first of the tanks should be out of maintenance soon)

Battle damage

A couple of Chaos Marine tanks have just rolled in for repair.

As you can see, they are badly beaten up and the paint job must have taken place under heavy fire from the enemy.

Various parts have been left behind on the battle field and the tracks have been badly shot up.

The commander of one has a glazed expression and is gripping the butt end of a weapon, the rest of which seems to have been shot or blasted away from him.

A bad starting position but I'll see what I can make of them.

Imperial Defense Lines

 I hope you've all missed me.

Sorry about the big gap. Big software problems. Still only half sorted it out.

The shop was a long time closing as David and I had lots to do all through January.

I hope many of you picked up some of the bargains as we sold off the remaining Games Workshop kit at half price.

I miss you all coming in to show me what you've been painting and I'm still looking for a place that youngsters can use as a club.

On a Monday evening, fortnightly, I do go down to see some youngsters at Kitebrook School who are keen to paint models and perhaps get playing games.

Meantime, my grandsons and I have been painting their Christmas presents, the Imperial defense lines.

Henry also received a huge army of Chaos rough-necks including two tanks. More of that in my next post.