The Deadly Assassins (Part 1)

Deadly.

In my recent post regarding Secret Weapon Miniature's conversion rings I used four Imperial Assassin models as an example of how their conversion kits work. They turned out well and I intend to acquire more conversion rings!

My unpainted model of the Imperial Assassin 

I have collected Imperial Assassin miniatures since I started playing 40K. When I first saw the Doctor's Warhammer 40,000 miniatures way back in the last days of '88, one of the stand-out models in the collection was his Imperial Assassin, the bad-ass one that looks like a ninja. He hadn't painted it yet. The previous owner had only ink-washed the model, and it looked like one of the stained miniatures that used to be in the catolog section in the back of White Dwarf. Even in this state I thought he was awesome.

The Doctor's Imperial Assassin painted back in 1989

 Eventually the Doctor painted the model in a camouflage scheme, leaving the gun as it was. I can bear witness to the efficiency of this camo-scheme: in a few classic Rogue Trader games we had that bastard actually truly hidden on the table before springing out and kicking all sorts of ass. "Hiding" was actually a rule in the early editions of 40k, and the terrain we used back then was mostly clumps of moss to represent heath. This model excelled at hiding in that stuff. So much so that us players would forget about him for hours.

The Doctor's assassin. Painted in 1989. 

Also I also fondly recall a big game back then when he lost a fight with a genestealer and was implanted with a genestealer embryo. Ah, fun times.. It was a very epic game! Seriously we were playing Apocalypse-sized games way before anybody else was but that moment alone stands out as the (hilarious) highlight from a 6 way (it could have been more) all day-long and well into the night, Rogue Trader game!

I think the Eversor  inherited that short sword

Yes, GW used to sell miniatures with slotta-hex bases!

Anyway, I eventually managed to track down a model of my own (in the '90s he was sold over here in the States along with an Inquisitor model, the one that looks like he has VW Bug for a chest) as he was a somewhat vital model in the early days of 2nd ed 40k. In time I tracked down all the original Rogue Trader-era Assassin models, and here they are in a flossbox along with some other Imperial Agents.

Having fun identifying all that! 

In this box we have 2 sets of the Assassin temples, each set being a unique pose with exception of the Culuxus. The last model of the middle row next to the Calidus is the Space Eunuch, whom I always thought would make a great Inquisitor or Inquisitorial Agent. Next to him are 2 female assassins, one with a sword and wearing light robes and one being a horribly sculpted woman armed with needles and wearing synthskin outfit. That last one is probably the precursor to the Calidus Assassin design concept  and is mostly interesting due to it's scarcity.

The 4 deadly assassins with their converted Secret Weapon bases.

The Assassin models in the Secret Weapon post have been on my table, off and on,  for years now and I have been tinkering on them slowly (barely at all, to tell you the truth). The bases have been fully converted and I think they came out great.  Inspired by that post I have continued to tinker away on them, and here is how things have progressed:

Completed Eversor!

The other night, I had a burst of inspiration and I just went all-out on painting the Eversor and I was able to knock it out from start to finish! Knowing my precious free-time was very much fleeting I didn't even stop for the typical progress photos, I just concentrated on finishing him! I will talk more about this model in part 2...

Happy Anniversary, Imperial Space Marine

My anniversary marine, pending assembly.

The anniversary weekend of the Imperial Space Marine has come and gone and I was one of the lucky few (thousand) that managed to get one from the GW website. As I contemplate how exactly I am going to model him up, I am also considering what to do with the older, original, versions of this model.

The original Imperial Space Marine was still being sold in a blister pack when I got into the hobby in '89 alongside his brother (i.e. marine with same type of armor style and funky gun, but with his gun pointed upward) and with a commander-type-leader figure with funky blasters mounted on his power gloves ("Sgt. Blaster Fists" is my nickname for him). I feel like these 3 models were a huge inspiration for that famous painting of the Crimson Fists that adorned the cover of Rogue Trader and most recently reused as the cover of the Imperial Space Marine 30th anniversary box.

I am not sure why I bought this blister pack, as these models didn't fit too well with the plastic Space Marines of the time, I guess I just thought they were cool. Or maybe I wanted the leader guy? Regardless, I have always been fond of them. So they sat in my collection unused to this day mainly due to having no idea what they were actually armed with as their guns did not conform to any design in the game. Now, 30 years later, the two marines with their (finally) named and stat-ed weapons will find homes in my Space Marine armies, of which I have four.

There is a great side-by-side comparison of the original vs. the new to be found at Weemen's blog, as well as another nice painted example of the new version.

The original Space Marine

I haven't seen anything to indicate that I can't use one of these models in a Space Wolf or Dark Angel army. I think the plastic one will go to the Space Wolves as I have enough Space Wolf bitz to get this model looking good and wolfy. The metal guys will be divied up between my Ultramarines and Dark Angels. My 4th army, the Celestial Lions are all going to be using "newer" models and since they are not a First Founding Chapter they probably won't have access to ancient relics like Disintegration Guns. And, from a reality stand point, I have done far too little work on them. Also, I have been contemplating making a 30k army but I am very indecisive on which Legion to choose, and I am already seeing this model being Incorporated into 30k armies (it only makes sense really).

Imperial Space Marine #2?

And that is the crossroads I am at with this idea; Three Imperial Space Marines and far too many options. Still, after so long I am glad to see one of my oldest minis get a new lease for life. But 30 years on, we still don't have stats for "Sgt. Blaster Fists", so he shall remain in the collection, waiting...

Sgt. Blaster Fists

Bolt Action: Universal Carrier (Part One)

Tally ho!
It's been forever since I had any kind of update on my Bolt Action army, but fear not, it is alive and well. Sorta.

I snapped this up recently when I found it on sale. The Univeral (Brenn) Carrier for the British. I hope to get enough of these to have a fairly mobile force, a sort of WWII "Rhino Rush".

I took it home and base coated it almost immediately.I was off of work for a week in March of this year, a "stay-cation" if you will, and I thought that this could be a fun and different kind of kit to work on during the free time.

It sat in this state for a few weeks however due to my vacation being interrupted by a forest fire in my back yard...

(Not kidding)

...which brought my vacation plans to a grinding halt as we dealt with that and all the drama that surrounded it.

So I didn't get any further than priming the model. Now it is a month and a half later and I am again itching to get this model done soon. Stay tuned for future B.A. updates!

The Neverness Battle Report archive page.

Last week was this blog's 5th birthday!

Since I began this blog over 5 years go, I have chronicled almost every table-top miniature game I have played. Usually with lots of pictures to accompany them. So the reports I am proud of either due to the quality of the photos, the caliber of my opponent, the events that transpired within the game, or maybe how pleased I am with the writing or the layout of the post will be linked here again for easier reference. As will the reports that I don't care for, for reasons opposite to those I just cited. Regardless, it's all here for ease of reference.

I do this at the dusk of an era for those of us in my locality. Our beloved Favorite Local Gamestore, Hobbytown USA of Johnson City, adopted home of Johnson City TN Gamers FB group, is ending the weekly game nights (update: this is no longer the case, yay!). Most of these battle reports, like close to 90% of them, were played at this venue.

After time it made sense to me to make it easier for myself, and others, to be able to search these reports. The idea came to me to list them by the army I used, chronologically followed by what the opposing army was, then the points and a short brief. As I continue to play games, this list will be updated and you can find a permanent link to it at the top of this blog and right here. So, here it is, I hope you enjoy skimming through these as much as I did reliving them myself.



Chaos Space Marines
vs. Chaos -1500pt Chaos Daemons with Chaos Space Marine allies vs. the same.
vs. Tau -1850pt massacre as the Tau shot daemons as if they were skeets.
vs. Grey Knights 1750pts Kharn vs. the Inquistion
vs. Khorne Daemonkin -1850pts. Kharn the Berserker vs. Khonre Daemonkin. Bloody fun game!
vs. Dark Angels -1500pt. Cypher chased down by the Dark Angels and the Ravenwing


Chaos Daemons
vs. Eldar Exodites -1225pt game. Daemons sought to protect their home against Exodite raiders.
vs. Chaos  -1500pt Chaos Daemons with Chaos Space Marine allies vs. the same
vs. Tau  -1850pt massacre as the Tau shot daemons as if they were skeets.





Space Wolves
vs.Inquisition 1500pts Sven Axegrinder vs Inquisitor MattFucking Ward
vs.Orks 2000pts Sven Axegrinder takes on Waaagh Murl and Da Long Wayz Dezert Group.
vs. Tyranids 1000pts of psychic turmoil for my Rune Priest and Hivefleet Warfrog.
vs. Orks 750pts against The Doctor's Orks
vs. Chaos 1000pts Wolf Priest Jarl Blacktooth's crusade against the Chaos Rebel Alliance led by Lars Blood Eagle (so jealous of that name!)
vs. Tyranids ?Pts  Wolf Priest Jarl Blacktooth's crusade continues as he clashes against Hivefleet Warfrog.
vs. Orks and Necrons 750pts each 4 way game, Wolf Priest Blacktooth allies with Wolfguard Battle Leader Buffalo John against and unusual Ork/Necron alliance!
vs. Blood Angels 1500pts(?) against Hiveangel's harder than hard Blood Angels.
vs. Orks and Necrons 1000pt 3 way game. Sven Axegrinder fights against Necrons and the Doctor's Orks.
vs. Eldar Exodites with Harlequin 1500pts (?)   Sven Axegrinder goes on the hunt for an artifact but is thwarted by Da Masta Cheef's vile xenos!
vs. Adepta Sororitas  1500pts Logan Grimnar picks a fight with Edwin's girls, and things get heated!
vs. Imperial Guard and Grey Knights 1500pt along with Lions of Harlech allies against Imperial Guard and Grey Knights.
vs. Blood Angels 1500pts vs Jim's treacherous Blood Angels!
vs. Eldar 1500pt Sven Aexegrinder's grueling match against Craftworld Warfrog's Eldar airforce.
vs. Ultra Marines, Chaos and Imperial Fists 1500pt 4-way carnage match.






Space Orks
vs. Chaos and Blood Angels 3000K Waaagh Ror Ruk allied with Waaagh Bink vs. The Thousand Sons (of bitches) and Traitor Blood Angels (apparently).
vs. Chaos 2000pts Mad Doc Grotsnik Orks with Ork allies (Eleet Grot Mountin Duvshun vs. the Thousand Sons (of bitches)
vs. Chaos 1500pt Mad Doc Grotsnik vs. The Red Corsairs
vs.Tau and Eldar 1500pts (?) against Femme FaTaus and Eldar Exodites.
vs. Tyranids  1500pt (?) against Hivefleet Matt. (I hope they got indigestion!)
vs.Tau and Dark Angels 1000pts 4 way battle. Ror Ruks Ravagers, Da Eleet Got Mountin Duvishun against Dark Angels and the notorious Femme FaTau.
vs. Orks 1000pts Ror Ruk's Ravagers vs. Da Eleet Grot Mountin Duvishun. Fight'n over da fort!
vs. Marines. 500pt game vs generic marines that look Blood Angels; the Red Marines if you will.
vs. Marines 500pt game. Rematch against Red Marines.


Tyranids
vs. Imperial Guard -1000pts. My attempt at a Genestealer revolt. 

Ultra Marines
vs. Chaos 1500pt against the Thousand Sons (of bitches).
vs. Imperial Guard 1500pt vs Murl's wall of murder.
vs. orks 1500pts vs Waaagh Bink.
vs. Tau 1500pts the first table top appearance of the Femme FaTau.
vs. Tau & Eldar 2000pt bash against Femme Fa Tau and Eldar.
vs. Tau & Eldar 1500pt(?) Femme FaTau and Eldar Corsairs.
vs. Space Marines 1500pt vs, the Lions of Harlech
vs.Tyranids 1750pts vs. Hivefleet Warfrog.
vs, Imperial Guard 1500pts. Screech returns from Basic with a head full of military tactics.

Secret Weapon Conversion Rings

With GWs discrete decision to shift their Space Marine miniatures over to 32mm bases (i.e. they aren't officially required), I was skeptical at first but now it's been over a year since this change I have found that I really do think the Space Marines look better on them. But I wasn't about to re-base all of my guys. I just wasn't passionate about that idea at all. At some point someone suggested I look into Secret Weapon Miniature's 32mm Conversion Rings. I checked it out and the concept intrigued me.

Recently I caved in and bought 3 sets, which is enough to convert 30 guys.

I am impressed! The quality is pretty high with minimal flash and clean-up. Although some pieces will require that I drill the holes a bit deeper for a more secure connection, this ought to be minor thing.

Assemby was slightly tricky and I found that starting with one side and then the other worked best for me. The pic above shows my method for preventing the model from being superglued to my table top.

I can foresee that some models will need some filler to eleminate join gaps but this shouldn't be a huge problem for me.

Getting the basing materials to match shouldn't be too challenging and as you can see I didn't have a problem with these guys, granted they are unfinished. These are the classic Assassin minis from the mid-'90s that I dug up last year around the time of the  Assassinorum: Strike Force game release and started to work on them at that time. However, like the marines, they are being shown on bigger bases and they do look better on them so I waited. Now with that wait over they re-enter the painting queue with their bigger base enhancement complete.

So, back to the conversion rings: they rock! Especially if you have completed bases already that you do not want to rip off of your minis. But, do get the basing redone right away otherwise people will think that your models look like Heroclicks!