GW Golden Brush April 2017 - the result

Well I managed to come away with first place in the Kill Team which was great! 

I couldn't get Deiad the Immoliant done in time which was a shame, on the other hand now that the Inquisition Kill Teams are available you can't arm them with flamers so... .. .. no real loss. 

I also added in my test model for my Deathwatch army as a special operative (still legal).

Here's a piccy of the happy family!

Gonna smite me some Xenos!

Now I am all pumped to get stuck into the next project... Deathwatch... 

GW Golden Brush April 2017

With the release of Shadow War: Armageddon and the internet exploding about the return to 2nd Ed rules/Necromunda I got all inspired to do some modelling. 

I have been a massive fan of INQ28 and the modelling opportunities it presents, and there are many fine examples of people's creativity littering the world wide web on forums and blogs. I have a plethora of ideas for creating my own retinues, and with Games Workshop Wellington having a Golden Brush competition (including a category for Kill Teams) on it's Grand (Re)Opening 28-30 April I thought I'd use it as an inspiration to get a Kill Team converted and maybe painted.

So after a couple of sessions I have the conversions done... they 'count as' Astra Militarum (until the Inquisition Warbands are released anyway...) although could equally work as Genestealer Cult I imagine!

Interrogator Constantin Tomanov (Veteran Sergeant)

Bolt Pistol w/Reload + Red-dot laser sight, Power Sword, Frag Grenades, Carapace Armour, Camo Gear

Lex-savant Karotan Gol (Veteran)

Lasgun w/Reload, Flak armour - (too much brightness exposure, can't see the lasgun barrel!)

Crispijn Solez (Veteran)

Lasgun, Flak armour

Deiad the Immoliant (Specialist)

Flamer w/Reload, Flak armour

Pertinax Varrus (Specialist)

Sniper rifle w/Reload + Telescopic sight, Flak armour, Camo Gear, Clip Harness

Gimeon Oshiro (Guardsman)

Laspistol, Assault blade, Flak armour

Castigator Paschalis (Guardsman)

Chainsword, Flak armour

The Varlet (Guardsman)

Laspistol, Flak armour

... and other paraphernalia

I have some ideas for backstories for these models - but that's a tertiary consideration until I get them painted!

The might of the Breslau Sturmjaegers

Possessed once again of a need to purge my existing collection of excess model baggage, amongst other things it gives a great view of what I've done, and what's still to do.

I am using this exercise to try and clarify the things I really care about 'finishing' (whatever that is/means), and letting go of the rest. This is the first of my armies to have the treatment...

IN ALL ITS GLORY

Command Squad (obviously with extra choices depending on what you take on the day), with attached Salamander/Chimera

Other options - the Techpriest has three really old skool servitors too.  I like the Priest and the Wizz... err... Primaris Psyker is also ace.

The Commissariat

Originally my Honorifica Imperialis Vet Squad sergeant, he is now my 'counts-as' Straken. Just need to paint his buddies...

Ogryn squad as seen in WD with their pimped ride (to be painted...)

PBS... or as they are now known as Wyrdvane Psykers. The guy in the front is now unemployed.

Militarum Tempestus Platoon Command Squad (and attached Commissar). Flamers are being converted to Hot-shot Volley Guns

Previously an Inquistion squad, now need their fatigues repainted

20-odd to assemble/paint

Alpha Platoon Command Squad with Chimera

Alpha Platoon Squads 1 and 2 with Chimera(s)

Alpha Platoon Squads 3 and 4

Alpha Platoon Heavy Weapons squads (need more 60mm bases...). Those Servitors at the back are guarding T-L Lascannon Tarantulas that I have had, in those bags, since they first were released from Forgeworld. Maybe I need to let them go...

Alpha Platoon Special Weapon Squad - currently under construction for many years, these guys have history but are needing some mates

Beta Platoon in all its glory (again, some new 60mm bases required...)

Veteran Squad 1 - masters of the alpha strike (in the good ol' days...)

Veteran Squad 2 - probably need to swap the meltas for plasma?

Veteran Squad 3 (Grenadiers) under painting construction

Ah... my old Penal Legion <sob>... they are probably going to be Veteran Squad 4 (designated sacrificial lamb squad 124857)

30 old metal Cadians that I had grand visions of turning into a Conscript Squad. Realistically though they are probably needing to find a home where they will be used.

Rough Riders... I have enough parts for another 5 to make a full squad of 10 but the tension between not really wanting to build/paint them and wanting to keep the spare bits because I will never get my hands on them again... grrr...

Flame tank of flaming flameness

If I have the points I take this. So... rarely. I think I have a multilaser somewhere

Currently configured as a Vendetta + Vendetta/Valkyrie. No plans for a 3rd

Commander Pask and his bodyguard 

Squadron A

The Big Boys... Demolisher needs his replacement multimelta sponsons!

Artillery Central

Probably going to use the Griffon as a Wyvern

The Pride of Breslau... and yes I can configure it as a Baneblade

Random models I have leftover (heavy flamer can be swapped into a Vet squad, the heavy bolter can be my counts-as Sergeant Harker)

So where to from here for the Astra Militarum?

Obviously there's a fair few models that still need to be painted. 

• Enginseer + 3 Servitors (I may have another one or two Enginseers lurking somewhere too)
• 25-27 Militarum Tempestus
• 3 Tarantulas
• 6 Special Weapons troops (snipers)
• 9 Grenadiers 
• 6 Leman Russes of various configurations in various stages
• Griffon a la Wyvern just because
• Baneblade/Hellhammer for those big fun games
• .. + 5 Rough Riders (maybe)
• ...  + 30 Conscripts (maybe)
• ..... + lots of rebasing

There wouldn't be much left to buy if money was no hindrance... all I'd want is a squad of 6 Bullgryns... but I'd prefer some enthusiasm to get this lot done to be honest!

Anyone have a pile of 60mm bases they don't need?? :)

Damocles campaign weekend

Over the long weekend I had the good fortune and time (due to a supportive sister-in-law) to participate in a Damocles campaign.

It was three a side, Space Marines (Iron Hands, Blood Angels, and Imperial Fists) vs the Tau and their enlightened ex-Astra Militarum allies.

I assumed the role of the human military Governor, with his allied Tau commander and some Kroot auxiliaries.

Before I arrived there was a BFG game that allowed bonuses to be gained for the actual 40k games. It appeared that the Tau got the best of the exchange, stopping the Imperial bulk troop carriers from making it planetside.

Game 1 was Planetstrike at 1750pts, vs Chris with his Blood Angels

Lots of space for things to drop into the open

Ready and waiting

SURPRISE!

Lucky for me the Blood Angels turned up a bit erratically and I managed to KEEP THEM THE HELL AWAY FROM MY LINES. Dante was a bit of a boss, I took a couple of wounds off him shooting but then he got stuck into the unfortunate Tau Crisis suit commander... 'nuff said.

The next day we had a couple of Kill Team games (no photos sorry) to try and get more bonuses for the large multiplayer game. My first game I was the attacker and managed to beat Leon's Iron Hands, then got smashed in 2 turns by Glen's Imperial Fists. Stupid failed bottle tests :)

Finally we settled down for the 6000pt a side game...

The final battlefield

Glen says "we've got this"

The famed Tau tactic "omggetawayfromthatflank-yon"

Marines and Sternguard... just before the basilisk shell hit

Twin-linked doom (oh and some terminators)

With nowhere to go the Vendetta has to fly into the teeth of the Space Marine guns

Sacrificial Grenadier squad

Vendetta failing EVERY SINGLE JINK roll

Brave Veteran squad holding up a squad of marines for 5 close combat phases until luck ran the hell out

Governor K'err screaming "Imperialis Eunt Domus!"

Failing all his jink rolls

Tau desperately trying to secure his body

The end of the game... phew

Thoroughly enjoyable weekend all round - and a well ground out draw (a bit like Damocles itself). 

Thanks to Wil for hosting and all my erstwhile allies and opponents!