Killteam: Genestealers (part 1)

With the release of the new Kill Team rules the local gaming group is buzzing with the excitement of playing Kill Team. Actually, it was going through a revival prior to this, but now it seems even more gamers are keen to get in on it. I am excited about it as it will allow me to model and paint a variety of different miniatures in lieu of what I have been focusing on in recent years (chaos marines, orks, and Bolt Action Brits).

Models and paintjobs that are older than 3/4 of my readers!

I whipped up a few 200pt lists of armies that I haven't done anything with in a while and started to access where I wanted to begin. There are a lot of possibilities here. These lists were Chaos, Space Wolves, Celestial Lions/Ultra Marines (i.e. Codex: Space Marines), Harlequin, Dark Eldar and I decided I wanted to definitely do something with Genestealers. The Genestealers quickly became the lead contender in the Kill Team race. It took me a few days to locate the miniatures, but after much frustration and seeking, I figured out where they were at. And now the plotting truly begins.

For 200 points on the dot, I can take 9 models. That is 8 Genestealer Purestrains and a Broodlord. I upgraded them with Toxin Sacs because poison rocks. Pretty simple on paper, and they look like they can close wicked quick on their prey, I just need to watch out for the Overwatch and open fields...

Looking back on my few Previous genestealer posts I somehow avoided discussing the paint jobs on these models, an oversight I'll fix now.

The first Genestealer I ever painted.

My Genestealer Purestrains were mostly painted in England, so somewhere in '91-'92. They were purchased as part of a boxed set called Terminators & Tyranids. It was a great set for it's time. And at that time my paint palette was limited to the Space Marine paint set, a few choice bottles of loose Citadel and Humbrol paints and the Citadel Inks boxed set.

I did not undercoat the models back then, and the blue color of the plastic may have worked to my favor. The light blue areas are based with a dark blue, then a middle layer of Shadow Grey and highlighted with Space Wolves Grey. The purple areas were based with terracotta, then Worm Purple before being washed with purple ink. Worm Purple would then be added back as a highlight. Their tongues were painted using a Humbrol Red.

It will be fun to revisit this scheme. Being a lot more experienced with painting then I was back then hopefully I can improve upon it. The first model I will paint will be this guy:

Unlike the old days I will likely prime the model with Chaos Black.

My two specialists will probably be these next two models. I say "probably" because these models are different enough in design that I might use some of the (even older) metal ones that I have. Still deciding on this idea... anyway:

The team leader will likely be this chap below:

I say "likely" because, again, design-wise the older ones look OK with these Space Hulk 3rd ed models but clash when scrutinized. I am tempted to locate my old running Patriarch model who fits in very well with the older 'stealers and use him instead.

That's all for now, hopefully I'll have something newly painted to show you soon!

Clowning Around (Part 3)

After painting all those earth-toned Brits for Bolt Action I needed the color fix that only painting a few Harlequin minis can give you. So I decided to clown around a bit more. Picking up exactly where I left off in December, I began with some dark gray mid-coats on the black area of this Death Jester

Mid-coat on armor and hair.

Next I applied even more red ink to the hair until I was satisfied with it. Then I used an even lighter gray for the highlights on the black areas of his suit.

With light gray highlights. 

You can see that the other Harley in the background is getting some color added to her mohawk as well.

While thumbing through the Harlequin painting guide, Warriors of the Laughing God, looking for inspiration I came across an alternate painting technique for the rock and ruins that most of the modern eldar figures are often modeled on. Basically you paint the rock/ruin a dark gray then wash it with Druchi Violet and highlight with Russ Gray. It's looked cool different in the book, and since I really am just clowning around with these models, I decided to give it a try...

Rocks washed with Druchi Violet.

So far so good, kind of a neat effect so far...

Russ Grey added to the rocks.

...and I'm not sure, but I think I hate it. They look OK in the photos, but in person it looks like I stuck cheap aquarium rocks on their bases. They don't appear right to me. So I am going to apply gray drybrushing to them to see if I like the result better. It's that or repaint them entirely to look like the traditional wraithbone look. I did like the look of the rocks with the purple wash, so we'll see what I can do to salvage this look...

The Reaper with the golden gun.

I decided my gray highlights on the black suit were just too intense and toned them down a bit with a wash of Nuln Oil. Then I painted gold onto the gun.

The rocks are corrected.

I decided to dry brush those funky rocks with Apple Barrel Pewter Grey and it seems to have done the trick. I can tolerate them now as they are no longer as distracting .

Next I decided to try another technique from Warriors of the Laughing God. This idea was to wash the weapon with Druchi Violet then highlight it with whatever they call Mitheril Silver these days.

Druchii Violet wash on rhe gun.

Mitheril Silver highlight on the gun.

I was very pleased with this effect and I will probably try this on some more Harlequins and maybe my Dark Eldar (whom I am considering for Kill Team).

Next up I finished off the mask and the gemstones that are all over this (and damned near every Goodwin Eldar) model. I changed his main soulgem from a red one to a green one just to break up the monotony.

More details done.

While working on the Death Jester I also completed this trouper by highlighting the red on her mask and adding some Mitheril Silver highlights to her gun and Harlequin Kiss.

Finished, front view.

On her back I finished off her gems and she was done.

Finished, rear view.

The rainbow hued mohawk came out fairly well. This was an experiment as well. I used inks on white to achieve the look of intense hair coloring. Also it's a bit of a call-back to the original paint schemes for these models from so many years ago...

Finishe Death Jester, rear view.

It's always fun to find a use for my old colored metallic paints, especially the Purple one. Here you can see I used it on the lightning bolt effect on the side of his cannon. Also I hand-painted the prism icon onto his right leg.

Finished Death Jester,  front view.

With exception to flock, these first few Harlequin models are done. I was having a lot of fun working on these and decided to prime up some more for the paint queue... coming eventually I guess... ;)

Battle! Action! -Bolt Action!

For the first time, I finally got to play Bolt Action. My fellow hobbyist and blogger The Bob, agreed to show me the ropes on Bolt Action. Get my lads 'stuck in' as it were. And a jolly-good show he made of it too.

Brits deployment, left flank.

British deployment, centre. 

Brits deployment, right flank.

Loaded Halftrack deployed with Forward Observer deployed in cover.

The rest of the German deployment.

This report is pretty much going to be a summary with my thoughts on the game.
The next pic below is only relevant in that it documents the first ever action I have ever performed in a real Warlord game. It was exciting stuff (for me anyway).

"Take the ruins!"

End Turn One

Turn One wrapped up with little pain for either side. Both of my observers had called in their strikes. My Forward Artillery Observer called in a strike on the German squad in the German center and marked it in such a way so as to hopefully tag the Panzer as well. The airstrike was called in on the Halftack. My Firefly sent a warning shot (yeah, a warning, that's it, yeah) over the panzer and it returned the salute in kind. The German unit on my left flank took on it's first pin marker.

The lads trade fire with Jerry! 

Turn 2 was a far more brutal affair. My airstrike achieved the game's first unit kill by wreaking the halftrack. Then my artillery barrage killed a few guys in the center and threw pin markers on the panzer as well. My Firefly hit the Panzer keeping it from performing any actions this round. Bob's Germans were not taking it without a fight and pinned down my Infantry in the ruins while his unit in the trees on my left flank eliminated 6 of my Infantry Division in a sick round of shooting. Probably the most effective smallarms combat of the game I think.

End Turn 2, start of Turn 3

Oddly I didn't do much documentation between the last pic and this next one, but I can say that the battle was in full on rage-mode. My left flank was crumbling, despite support from my CO directing the BREN Carrier to dump it's fire into German unit on my left flank, as well as some sniping (so it seemed) from my Forward Artillery Observer . The unit was losing men but still dishing out pain and ultimately my Infantry Division on the left flank were cut down by them. The biggest upset occurred in this period with the German airstrike strafing the German unit in the center and doing so with such efficiency as to utterly destroy them! (Someone is going to have sone explaining to do when he lands...)

The right flank was getting scary as well, as I only started off with the Forward Air Observer and a PIAT team. After trading shots the Forward Air Observer unit was wiped out.

Start of Turn 5

The Firefly kept pounding on the Panzer, almost smothering it in pin markers.

CLANG!

The PIAT Team never had anything come close enough to use the actual PIAT against, but their rifle shots were effective at slowing down the Germans advance on the right flank.

"Take that you gits!"

With the German squad in the center having been torn appart by the Luftwafe, I moved out of the ruins to support the PIAT Team. They did a fine job reducing their numbers but the German resolve was too tough to be break.

Top of Turn 6

Going into Turn 6 we were tied with 3 VPs each (or whatever the BA equivalent is called). My Bren Carrier blasted away his HQ unit over on the left flank pushing my tally up to 4 VPs.

Advancing from cover.

We traded more small arms fire and although there were a few casualties on bith sides no more units were eliminated. His Panzer did hit my Firefly for the first time in the game but it inflicted no damage.

End of the game, full table view.

With that the game ended 3 VPs to 4 VPs.

End of the game, close up of the remaining action.

What did I think of Bolt Action now that I have played it? Well, I loved it! The randomly determined turn based system definitely eliminates alpha strike, table-you in-a-turn shenanigans that has made a few particular games a bit distasteful. Although, yes it's possible to pull one side's dice one after another (this occurred in our game on one of the turns), it didn't have a much of an impact on our game.

I like the simplicity of the combat system. And the Leadership system, and found the game to be easy to grasp. I like that there are some aspects of the game where a roll on a table is required to determine the outcome of the action (i.e. airstrikes). Some people hate tables, but I am old school enough to totally love them.  The only thing we didn't do was a close combat assault so I still need to experience that, but otherwise I am pleased with the game and I am glad I got in a game prior to 2nd edition launching.

Looking forward to the next game!

Bolt Action: British Infantry Division (Part Five)

A'hoy there! As I declared in the last post, these lads are done! All I had left to do was add some static grass and some grass tufts and that was it.

"Advance!"

"Take this table!!!"

However I decided that these models would be the perfect candidates to try a touch of a bit more realism: leaves. 28mm scaled ones anyway.

Bag O mini leaves.

I first became aware of this nice modeling accessory a few years ago while skimming through the gallery page on Warhammer-Empire's Brush and palette page. Somebody had used these on a city street scene and it made the whole thing look so much more alive. My local gaming store got some of these in stock with their Secret Weapon Masterclass Scenics supplies and I had to buy a pack. I was hoping to add them to my death castle project but since I never got back around to ever finishing that, the pack of leaves remained unopened. Until now that is!

Now with leaves.

I applied them by first adding a dot of PVA glue to the spot on the base that I want the leaf to go and with a pair of tweezers I then pressed the leaf onto the selected area. After letting the glue to dry, they were finally finished. The added flourish of the fallen leaves does add that touch of realism that I hoped to get by their inclusion.

"Crikey, where in hell have we been deployed too?" 

(The dynamic artistic shot)

With that, the first phase of my Bolt Action British Army is complete. I have another 10 Infantry left to complete, some spotters and Command Offiers and that will get me mostly done with phase 2 unless I decide to add something else. Phase 3 is a box of Red Devils and some Wargames Foundry Home Guard on bicycles. I am toying with getting some heavy artillery and maybe another tank, but we'll see. I want to keep this fairly small and not get carried away like I tend to do with 40k.

Bolt Action: Universal Carrier (Part Three)

Continuing right where we left off I continued to apply color to the tracks. I dry brushed on a brighter metal color over the raised surfaces, but liberally so.

Metal drybrushed on tracks

 Next up, I used an old Citadel color called Jungle Green to thinly highlight the edges of the vehicle.

Jungle Green highlight.

 To add a bit more weathering I mixed brown and orange ink together which I used with a dab of water to wash over the all of the track assembly and the under carriage of the Universal Carrier.

Weathering applied

 Also I mixed green and black ink together which I used to darker the joins and grooves on the main hull. I also applied this onto yhe track wheels as these components were often painted to protect from weathering. I imagine these bits would have to be repainted often during maintenance due to the obvious wear and tear these machines would endure.

Next I popped in the part that I assume is this thing's engine. It fit so tightly that I didn't even take it back out to glue it, instead I only glued the piece that goes on top of it which will hold it in place just fine.

I decided that with the variously equipped troops that would be occupying the back of this thing that the paint would be pretty scuffed up. And the floor plate would be dirty as well.

Scuffed and weathered.

After some touch-ups, the crew are now done. The only thing left to do for them is to afix the patch decals to their arms and the decals on the vehicle before adding on the final parts.

Almost there! 

Next, the decals were transferred onto the hull.

Yo Joe!

Gosh, this vehicle looks WAY too clean! I will definitely need to dirty it up a bit before it's done. In it's current state it reminds me of an old '80s era G.I.Joe toy. This is the current state of the thing, next to add the final bitz and dirty it up a little and it's done!