Double Trouble Interviews Vlog - Darksun 20

As you may be able to guess from the title, this is a Vlog from Double Trouble on the 10th of June. Its basically a bunch of fellow like minded geeks chatting about how the day went for them. A short Vlog at only 3 mins, hope you enjoy :)

Missile launcher conversion: to done!

Finally! A painting update. This major project has taken months of my time and has been a real labour of love.

 

So just in time for Double Trouble, I've painted this missile launcher rack to indicate that my old school Ultramarines have a missile launcher. 

 

I've used blue stripes as a spot colour to tie it into the first founding chapter, but ive painted the base a yellow colour to tie it in with the Howling Griffons.  

 

The base, coupled with the little dots on the control panel all help to brighten this model up a bit, I was concerned that it was all just shades of mechanical gray to start with but the spot colours have worked that out nicely. In a pinch I might be tempted to use this as some form of fortification add on or something. It's generic enough.  I can't find the 2016 "40k addict" hobby stamp that indicates this is "to done", but I'm signing this little project off as completed :)

Darksun 19 - Double Trouble Vlog Preview

Hey Guys! A short vlog today featuring what units im taking to Double Trouble this weekend. Enjoy! 

Double trouble update

 

Hello! An update of some fashion on the various 40k aspects of my hobby from this weekend. Firstly, I've submitted my list on time to Alex for Double Trouble, a 40k tourney with a twist! Basically you get randomly paired a partner each round and then fight against another partner. It's the first time he's run it, and should be great event! Stay tuned in the next week for a video run through of what I'm taking and why. 

 

Secondly, as you can see from this photo my forces were in action for a training game ahead of the aforementioned tournament on the 11th. Was obviously a training mission because we all had space marines. So at least 1 in 9 lists will be "good guys" in Power armour, though I imagine it's way more than that. Second time I've played 40k all year, went reasonably well. The dual nature of the missions as you rush to compete objectives is great fun. 

 

Thirdly, on submitting my list i realised that I do have a model to paint! This missile rack. My old ultramarines are taking a rocket launcher with them so that they aren't completely useless on the battlefield. Holding objectives and taking hull points! Yay! I used these guys in the practice game and there was something deeply satisfying about using my first painted models!

I've decided that if I enter the whole army into the painting competition, I might do a little before and after version of the tactical squad, comparing them with some extra howling griffons marines. Hopefully Alex won't mind. Now that all the lists have been submitted, Did anybody take up 

my challenge about using some of hire first painted models? I'd love to get a group photo on the day :)

Possible double trouble lists

Dear readers! I am slightly undecided on which configuration of howling griffons to take! Having pinned my colours to the mast in terms of using an old model or two, I will of course be taking space marines. Lucky for me, the howling griffons are a succesor chapter of the ultramarines, and in this case for me it has more than one level of significance. As already mentioned, the bad boys in blue represent the first models I ever painted. 

 

As you'll see, there are a couple of different configurations of army in these pictures. Basically, I probably can only afford 1 drop pod, so I'm torn between sternguard and another squad of bikes, or simply grav cannon centurions. The grav centurions and the bikes were both massive players for me at the last 2 Blog wars and I'm thinking that actually they will have proportionally more effect at 750. 

 

There is a way that I can squeeze both in, but it does leave me with not a lot of room for much else. I have to start sacrificing my speed and that is something that this force is reliant on. Lots of bikes, with a librarian on a bike making them all super scoring is sorely tempting, considering the objective nature of the missions. 

 

Another option would be to get rid of the scouts and thunderfire cannon to fit them both in, but again I think that they bring more to the table than a squad of sternguard. If I wanted to go really left field I could run the ultramarines on foot as legion of the damned. That might be quite characterful as well, something about thier unwillingness to die coupled with a 3++ save is quite appealing. 

Anyway, these were all the thoughts rolling round in my head whilst I listened to Man U secure a mighty 5th place last night. I've done some number crunching and most of these different building blocks fit together quite well, it's just the centurions. So over to you! Which unit that I've listed would you least like to see? How speedy do you think my force needs to be? Would you take legion of the damned? I look forwards to hearing your thoughts. 

Double trouble challenge

I've been thinking a lot recently about what to take for double trouble (more on that in a future post) and I wanted to throw down the gauntlet regarding models. 

 

This is supposed to be a fun tourney and having been interviewed for the better know a blogger series I decided I wanted to get back to my roots. So, I will be taking to double trouble the first models I ever put together and painted. The challenge is, are you?

 

 You might ask yourself, why should I? I'd say because in some ways, these models are like a tangible equivalent to baby photos or photos of you when you were a kid. For me, I've developed into a reasonably good hobbyist and wargamer. But more than that, I've developed as a person, and wargames have helped me to do that. Coupled with my faith, both environments have helped me develop and come out of my shell. Both have been safe places for me to learn who I am. A bit gushing I know, but totally true. The friends I've made through this hobby are real friends who value me for who I am.

 

That's why I'm going to be taking these models to double trouble. I'll be rocking the classic "I glued these boltguns on the wrong way round" look, with an added extra of airfix paint. I may even use one as my librarian on a bike!  My challenge to anybody coming is to do the same!

Luke goes stripping!

Following on from a friends blog on stripping, I thought I'd offer my thoughts. To be clear, in this context stripping means removing paint from old models. It doesn't means removing clothes from young models. 

I decided to liquidate some old models that are just taking up space to fund other parts of my addiction the models in question were half painted or under coated black. I've actually unsuccessfully tried to sell these sister of battle before, but was unsuccessful. I thought I'd try stripping them down back to the metal before re-selling them. 

I'm using nail polish remover that does contain acetone, as I feel it gets a little more of the paint off. Following a tip from topher, I put them in a sealed jar and left them for about 2 weeks, giving the nail polish remover time to work its magic. 

My top tip would be to leave the jar full of liquid whilst you're cleaning down a model. Whilst holding a mode, take a toothbrush and dip it into the remaining fluid and then brush the paint off the model. Having a wet toothbrush dripping in nail polish remover is great for this sort of stripping. For some reason, it makes a massive difference and the paint comes off way eaiser!

These gals are all finished now, and will be sold in the near future. I think the hour that it's taken me to clean them up will drastically increase their value, they just look loads better. I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. Not bad for only my third or fourth time stripping!

Refurbishing some old classics

So, I've been clearing out my old models in search of anything that needs love. Some of the stuff I've ebayed, but these guys were way to cool to get rid of.theyve all spent most of the last month in a vat of nail polish remover and are now ready to be painted. 

 I thought I'd share with you about them and make them part of my "to paint in 2016". I'll be doing a proper post on that but this is a more detailed look at these models. 

First off, this games day model! From the early 2000s I think, this guy is not great under 40k rules as he has a powerfist. I also don't think I ever had is right hand, but that's a simple conversion. I'm looking forwards to putting this guy back to his former glory. Even if I don't really want to ever take a space marine captain on foot lol. 

Rolling out another classic, this banner bearer is a metal equivalent of my current banner bearer. I've got the cross piece for the top of the pole so I can make a banner for him but I don't know what design to go with! Do I say that the first one is the chapter banner or that this guy is? I'll have to take a look at that. 

Another grizzeled veteran here. Perhaps a drill Sargent or a the guy who trains the new recruits. I'm wondering if I should paint him up to somehow represent that. "He's normally on the fortress monestry but for this battle he's out on the front line" kind of thing. Or maybe he's just a tactical squad Sargent. 

I also found and cleaned up a culexus assassin. I never found the assassins easy to paint. It's just black after all! But hopefully that'll come out ok. 

So there we have it! What gems have you found recently? I've been at my parents this week for baby Jesus day and I've found a whole host of goodies!