Tau Fireblade Conversion - Complete

Well, he's done. And fairly well done too I think considering I only started painting him yesterday morning:

I know that technically a Fireblade can't take a Pulse Carbine but the Rifle on the stock mini looks just a little bit too long for the way it's being held. 

With black hearts and iron fists...

It's taken a long time but I've finally succumbed to the urge to try out Warhammer Fantasy Battle and as such I've decided to collect a small army of the Dawi Zharr. Possibly not the easiest army to collect or use but I just love the Forge World miniatures of them. Below you can see the Daemonsmith who'll be leading the army.

This is likely to be a slow burning project but I'll update as much as I can on it as and when I can. 

Dystopian Wars Empire of the Blazing Sun Fleet - WIP

I bought these mini's back in March but after learning that two of the guys at my local club were into Dystopian Wars as well I decided to get them painted up:

The Red Ruin comes...

"Arise, arise, Sons of Daedelos Krata! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! 
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, 
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises. 
Fight now, slay now! For the Emperor!"

Ok, so I've bastardised King Theoden's speech from the Ride of the Rohirrim but I think it's a fitting warcry for the bloodthirsty Minotaurs Space Marine Chapter, especially Ancient Moraie 'The Red Ruin' who I finished painting today:

Mechanicum Thallax Cohort - Completed

Got these fellas finished up today as well. I've gone for a deliberately simple colour scheme so that it can be easily replicated when the new Mechanicum units are released by Forge World and because I think the Mechanicum would favour form and function over aesthetics.

Tau Fireblade Conversion and Ancient Moraie Progress

I set myself the goal of progressing 3 projects this afternoon and I'm pretty happy that I've managed to do that. I completed a Tau Fireblade conversion ready for an upcoming competition, started painting my Mechanicum Thallax Cohort's bases, so a few more layers of colour will see them finished and Ancient Moraie my Minotaurs Contemptor is even nearer completion... just need to decide whether or not to add some dust and grime to his feet and lower legs to tie him to his base or if he's close enough already... any thoughts?

Tabletop Trading UK Give Away Prize - Completed

Well, he took a little longer than planned but he's now ready to be sent off to his new owner Robert John Walker! 

Mechanicum Thallax Cohort - WIP

I couldn't resist grabbing some of these when they were revealed by Forge World earlier in the year:

The Thallaxi Cohort has access to some nasty weapon options in addition to their already formidable armaments. After a fantastic brainstorm chat with Ead Brown at Forge World I decided to go with the phased plasma fusil to give me the ability to tear up more power armoured Traitor Astartes. As there's no 'official' version of the weapon yet I converted one of the Thallaxi's lightning guns (left most model in the above image).

And here's the Cohort part way through being painted up:

I decided to paint their face plates glossy black as I wanted them to appear as inhuman as possible. I've also deliberately restricted the colour palette so that it's easy to replicate and because I don't see the Mechanicum as adding embellishment where it's not necessary. In the picture below you can see the glowing cores of the atomantic arc reactors that power the Lorica Thallax as well as the various thrust nozzles that make these heavy infantry scarily manoeuvrable:

This is but the first unit of a Crusade/Heresy Era Mechanicum Army that I plan to build up slowly as more units are released by Forge World.

It is done!

Despite three new scars on my thumb and not a little cursing it is done! I have finally assembled all the mini's for my Heresy Era Army...

I do plan on adding two Rhino's in time but I'm happy with the army as it stands now and I think it'll give most other 3000pt sized forces a bloody nose on the tabletop as well. Now to get my paint on!

Legion Praetor leading a squad of Cataphractii  armoured Terminators

Death Guard Legion Tactical Support Squad 

Legion Heavy Support Squad with Multimeltas

Spartan Assault Tank 

Incidentally the Spartan does have sponsons, I've just left them separate for ease of painting.

Cometh the Red Ruin... well, nearly

I thought I'd put up some update shots of Ancient Moraie of the Minotaurs. After much thought I've decided not to go over the top adding battle damage to him due to the Contemptor chassis having atomantic shielding... I figured only the most fell weapons the Emperor's foes would actually strike Moraie's frame such as the blow that tore away part of his left pauldron...

Tabletop Trading UK Prize Giveaway Mini - Update

Unfortunately progress on this has been limited over the last couple of weeks due to some real life issues and me falling ill. However I'm back up and running now so thought I'd share the progress I've made on this mini:

While I don't have all the details of the winner's army's background but he asked for a Pre-Heresy Dark Angels-esque scheme which has been good fun to paint so far... layering up black gets much easier with practice!

The winner also asked for a 'bone/skull face plate' which I thanks to the blank visor of the mkIII Breacher Helm was fairly easy to achieve and I think it makes the mini that much more characterful.