Memorial to a great man

I'm not one for mixing hobby blog with general news, however there is a bit of a link here.

I awoke this morning (like many others I suspect) to the news that Terry Pratchett had passed away.

My first Terry Pratchett novel..

I would consider myself a big fan, although not a 'fanboy' i.e. I don't own all the Discworld novels or many of his other publications, apart from a signed copy of Johnny and the Bomb... and of course the EXCELLENT Good Omens co-written with Neil Gaiman, nor do I own many supplemental publications except The Science of the Discworld and A Blink of the Screen.

I was introduced to his writing in about 1988/89, when a mate of mine at school pressed his copies of The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic into my hand and told me I had to read them. We were all playing a bit of Truncheons and Flagons* in our spare time so the parallels and general amusements were many. I was hooked. A few years later I was drawn into the grimdark of 40k, which is quite the polar opposite.
* +1 Internet if you get the reference

My response this morning to Terry's passing was one of extraordinary deep sorrow and grief. Perplexed at why it has really affected me - I never did much analysis on why I enjoyed the books so much other than they were excellent sources of light hearted yet quite biting satirical commentary on all sorts of things we as a society display - I have come up with a couple of personal reasons.

• The Discworld series was a balance to my love of the 40k universe - the light and wit of the characters and stories (although Lords and Ladies is a bit dark...) vs the dark and hopelessness of the 41st Millenium
• My father passed away last year - he also was possessed of a keen wit, had a white beard for a long time (although not as nicely trimmed), and ultimately suffered from dementia, so there are some vague parallels there
• While the 40k Universe and Black Library publications continue to roll on, the Discworld series will be no more - it is the end. It has ended without an End Times of any sort. 

Sadly I noticed that my copy of The Colour of Magic has disappeared from my collection :( , which shall have to be replaced (unless I can remember who I lent it to).

Terry's publications brought laughter and happiness to many people. 

Let the Bell of Lost Souls in the Tower of Heroes toll.

Well that was quicker than expected...

Behold the (almost) finished retro HQ Immolator...

Buuuuuurn... Oh and the turret is magnetised

Thank you Grail Knight for your banner, you won't be needing it aaaany more...

Close up of detail (I hope)

I quite like the old turret. Pity heavy flamers are pants. 

Just need to do some liquid greenstuffing on the plasticard and jobs a good 'un. I was going to add a Hunter Killer missile but I'm lacking real estate really.

Adepta Sororitas progress

It seems like ages since I posted so apologies. Life, NZTC, life again, etc. conspiring against me and my efforts to do hobby time and post regularly. It's always good to blame outside influences, it saves taking responsibility for your own lack of problem ownership.

There has been zero progress on my Sector Imperialis board other than showing it to Glen (of Wrythhold) and Wil... it's just there are so many other duck-esque things to distract me.

FOR EXAMPLE... I picked up five Adepta Sororitas Immolators recently - 3 of which were the full kit and two being Rhinos with Immolator turrets. They came prepped and partially undercoated, with all the weapon options, and had the Forgeworld front plates and side doors, with a FW rear door thrown in there too - so I was pretty excited about that,

I have built three of them so far...

Eat melta death, heretics!

... note they have multi meltas (which are not glued, but I am not sure I will ever have use for the other two weapon options especially as these will be used solely for Dominions. Who scout. Or outflank.)

So I need to build and paint some Dominion squads to go in them, as I never have used Dominions before (just didn't fit with my play style/previous lists). 

Here's two squads ready to assemble. I have enough models for a third squad, but they may have to be armed with flamers not meltaguns :(

Ahh, metal unprepped models, my favourite... (not)

The fourth Immolator is going to be using the old metal top plate/turret that I got from Pete Dunn nearly a millennia ago and will be used by my HQ most likely... and here it is in bits. Note the Grail Knight banner that will be placed over where the top hatch goes (somehow). I am still figuring how this might all work (plus I need to magnetise the turret so it doesn't fall off all the time)... this may take a couple of weeks,

Lolz at the former Chaos Rhino front plate being reconsecrated...

I have also been sidetracked by Grey Knights. I was supposed to be getting my GK metal terminators finished and the GK metal Librarian done but it's uninspiring for me. So I'll probably put them on TradeMe so someone can get some use out of them.

<fzzap>

He is not going to fall backwards! And no he is not dancing!

Health and Safety - needs a hand rail for that left arm to safely descend those stairs...

Doesn't look too dull?

Once I get painting we'll see how good (or bad) my moulding and modelling of the GK script is... brown stuff and liquid green stuff can cover lots of errors, but ... :)

I am also seriously considering selling my Word Bearers on eBay. Many many hours went into this army, with assistance and support from several key people to help me realise my vision for them. You can read more about it (and more importantly see pictures, particularly on pg 3) on my modelling diary at WargamerAU. This army won me the Harlequin award at Liber Animus in 2009 and have been sitting in a box pretty much ever since.  I love the army and their background, they are a great foil for my Adepta Sororitas, but thinking about upgrading them for 7th and adding new units (like the new plastics from the Dark Vengeance box set that I have converted just for this purpose) just gets me a bit... meh. So maybe it's time for someone else to enjoy using them, 

I am also getting very excited for Maelstrom VIII coming up - I just need to get to my minimum registered and paid players so I can be confident it'll go ahead!

Maelstrom VIII - Update #1

Maelstrom will allow players to choose 0-1 Fortifications (including optional upgrades) which are listed in the GW publication Stronghold Assault, using the rules for Buildings in the main Rulebook pg 110 - 113 (including your opponent being able to take control of them...)

Please note that, as per the Rules, the Fortification must be able to be deployed wholly in your deployment zone AND, as the terrain is fixed, there's no moving terrain to accommodate your building.

So those people considering bringing Aquila Strongpoints/Defence Lines/Defence Networks take note at this implication.

Sector Imperialis board - Part 1

One of my goals for February is to paint my Sector Imperialis board (particularly in light of needing it ready for Maelstrom). After seeing Pete's efforts and the time he has spent on his Tablescapes boards over at FoB, I was a bit... nervous.... reluctant.... hesitant... 

But no, I wasn't going to let my own mind get in the way of progress. So I boldly undercoated with black spray... last week... and I have finally begun with the hand painting.

I have used a number of Resene test pots that I have matched to the GW colours (as best as possible), but I will refer to the GW colour when I discuss paints to keep it simpler (for me).

Oh, and GOODNESS THERE IS A LOT OF DETAIL. Also, GW's video (which I watched again) should be renamed "An overt marketing video on how we want to increase sales of every single paint, particularly metallics, that we produce".

These two photos are Step 1 (post-undercoat). I got out some spray cans - Mournfang Brown and an old can of Camo Green - and lightly sprayed some places on the board as you can see. Why? Well, it meant that I could overbrush metallics on top and have some colour come through underneath.

I wish I could have found my old Boltgun Metal can, I must have lent it to someone :(

Where I am at right now

This one is the furtherest along

Step 2 - I have painted the following:

• Flagstones - Khorne Red, stippled blotches on them of Steel Legion Drab and Rhinox Hide, drybrushed them with Bugmans Glow (these colours, along with the dirt, fit the basing scheme I have on all my Astra Militarum, Inquisition, Sisters of Battle, and Word Bearers)
• Metalwork: Mix of Balthasar Gold, Screaming Bell, Warplock Bronze, and Leadbelcher
• Dirt: Rhinox Hide
• Road and drains: Eshin Grey, drybrushed with Administratum Grey

Where to from here:

• Finish base colour metallics over the remaining 4.5 boards
• Paint all the skulls...
• Paint bits of detail here and there (lights, maybe control panels... etc.)
• Random highlights of metallics
• Airbrush a 50:50 mix of Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade over the whole board to bring it all together
• Add some different ink colours in random spots
• Drybrush flagstones, guttering, and dirt with Ushabti Bone
• Drybrush all metallic bits with Necron Compound
• Add some effects (corrosion, etc)

I am going to try and get in a couple of hours a day on this.

This is certainly an interesting project that requires some patience. It would be cool if there were a few of you working on it together (along with a few beers and a BBQ), painting it on my own has been a bit... tedious.

Maelstrom VIII Resurrection

I am very pleased to announce that the eighth Maelstrom tournament will be held on the weekend of 16th/17th May 2015 at Cashmere Avenue School, Khandallah, Wellington.

It will be 5 rounds of 40k, with armies of 1850pts, Earlybird entry cost for Maelstrom is $30 up until 31 March 2015, after which the cost is $40.

You can download the Players Pack here.

Any updates or news will be posted here and also at http://www.wargamernz.com/.

I am still alive...

Yes it's been a couple of weeks or so since I posted last... but I've been busy in the background... 

Sometime this week I'll have finished my two extra Realm of Battle boards, and hopefully undercoated my Sector Imperialis boards. Definitely the former, maybe the latter... 

But the big news is that I have booked a weekend to run a 40k tournament - so anyone that wants to attend should block out 16+17 May 2015.

Many more details and a players pack to come by the end of this weekend...