Predator - Converted

Wow, talk about get sucked into a project - I was meaning to post every week until this predator. Every single change I made created another problem that needed modification.

This is my first big build, and my first attempt to make anything substantial that needs to stand up to tabletop viewing and it was both frustrating and time consuming. However using the forgeworld renegade etched brass was the highlight for me, a small sprue packed with amazing pieces.
Ultimately I have managed to turn a tank i dislike (the predator just feels like a fat box with a tiny gun on it), into a tank I like, but don't love.

Predator + Massacre + NMM attempt!

So its been a very busy week with not a huge lot of progress! However two days ago a package arrived at the door from forge world.

Inside was my copy of Horus Heresy Massacre, which I have to say is a fantastic book. I am definitely going to be collecting a Mechanicum army (well, dark mechanicum).

In my order I also had some Chaos Rhino extra armor, which I had been eagerly anticipating. I am a big fan of classic tanks such as the Panzer IV, and the idea of side skirting on my predator was very appealing.

While nowhere on forgeworld does it state these kits can work with a predator, I just went with it assuming if it didn't work I would make it work.

It turns out they do - So for anyone out there looking at these side skirt kits, dont worry about it they do fit on predators as well as rhinos without affecting the sponsons too much (if at all, slightly obscures shooting but not enough to worry someone who likes the look of them)

Faeit 212 welcome! - Now with more Decimators!

First and foremost a huge thank you to Natfka over at Faeit 212 for adding me to the blog exchange. It is a huge thing to tiny bloggers like me to be thrust into the spotlight for a second, and I am very grateful.
Secondly - Thankyou for taking the time visiting my blog and I hope you like what you see and continue to watch as it evolves.

I knew I had to post something a little less commonly seen in celebration of being added to the blog roll, so this weeks offering is my Chaos Decimator Siege Engine.

So this weeks post is a bit of a gallery, I'd love to hear what you think...

Creating Havok for Grandpapa - Part 2

Hey!
I thought I shouldn't leave it too long before I posted the completed Havoks.
I learnt a hell of a lot painting these guys, as my first real project in a new army it was a challenge and took me way longer than it should have, but its all worth it in the end in my opinion.

From a rules perspective I thought I might mention my logic when it came to choosing two autocannons and two missile launchers - Its called middleground - They offer decent effectiveness against vehicles and with frag missiles, good effectiveness against masses. Also, if i am facing fliers and chose flakk missiles (for some bizarre reason) two BS4 autocannon shots and four autocannon snapshots are nothing to be sniffed at for light anti-air.

These Havoks were a blast to paint, and as someone who had never painted a 'dirty' model in his life they offered so many new techniques to learn and tools to work with for future models.

... Onwards to the pictures!

Causing Havok for Grandpapa - Part 1

After the small amount of conversion I did on my cultist squad, I was really keen to sink my teeth into an actual modelling project, and with new chaos codex in hand my eyes quickly fell to something I hadn't ever fielded before - Havoks.
My number one goal when creating a new unit or starting any modeling project is to create a story within the model. For me, being able to look at a model or unit and immediately see a glimpse into their 'reality' is a huge part of the joy of conversion.

The image i dreamed up was a squad of nurgle havoks, bloated bodies rippling against the recoil of their guns, oil smoke acrid fumes and bullet casings abounds while small nurglings climbed all over them, un-jamming weapons and re-loading launchers.

Now onto the project itself...

*Note: The earlier my project, the less complete my step by step photos are, and now that I am writing a blog future projects will be documented better.

Traitor, I choose you!

That's right, its a Dark Vengeance Chosen.

My old Chaos army (which I will shamefully display in a later post) was painted a clashing navy blue with white trim. When I finally got this chosen in my hands I decided it was time to swap out white for gold. The end result is rather similar to the night lords, however both the blue and gold typically end up duller and more muted, which I honestly prefer for Chaos.

Genesis - From the Warp they come!

Hi! Welcome to my blog and its inaugural post. I will keep things short and sweet before you get bored and run away.

I started collecting 40k when I was a young teen about a decade ago and spent several years painting some rather horrible looking paint jobs. After a while high school took over and I became far less interested in tiny plastic men. As age and money crept to me, my desire to paint tiny things resurfaced and two years ago I decided it was time for my Chaos army to be reborn. (The release of dark vengeance did much to inspire this).

This will be the first post in a chain of posts focusing on painting and modelling, with the occasional gripe about this or that. I'm not fantastic, I'm nowhere near as good as some people out there, but for me that is the point of writing this - I want to showcase what people at the mid level of this hobby can achieve with patience and effort - and encourage others to do the same!


These cultists were the first new models I painted, and even in a short space of time I can see I have improved since then. Enough words, time for some pictures.

The Flame Cultist was a treat to paint, I particularly enjoyed my first effort at free hand detail on the fuel tank.

For me it is very important that models never look identical. This is a cult rabble not a line army, so I was adamant about taking my first small steps as a converter to make them look slightly different. I put the duplicate models next to each other.

They did all receive basing jobs in the end, I settled on "lava rock flows' for my army. But they would not be a cult without a traitor marine to look up to...