New Nid Models Confirmed!... and Space Puppies too...

So it has finally arrived! The models that tyranid players needed when the codex originally dropped. (facepalm) If only GW had the wisdom to release the models in with a well written codex they might have seen a wider range in armies used at tournaments besides MEQ or IG.

Enough ranting... Overall I am pleased with the models look and feel. Thank god the Tervigon and Tyrannofex are a dual kit. If they had released a separate kit for that I would be dissapointed. It's too bad that my conversions now finally have been replaced by licensed GW products.

The Plastic Flyrant is a great addition and a welcome one too. Sad that my Flyrant (pewter) is still in construction and is a project for the ages. With the release of the plastic kit, I am unsure whether or not my time converting a new one will be time well spent.

BONESWORD/LASHWHIP KITS! These are so late in arriving it's not even funny. I instead had to purchase an extra Venomthrope to salvage enough lashwhips for my Warriors, and the boneswords I snagged from an independent sculptor.

Lastly the plastic Swarmlord/Tyrant kit is a long time coming. That being said I am a bit disappointed with the Swarmlord model. I think that my conversion or similar conversions using the classic boneswords are better.

Anyways... anyone else have some thoughts??

Hobby Update

Alas the past year many things have happened in our lives. Weddings, deployments, new puppies, etc. That being said I thought it would be smart to bring back a quick update on my hobby frivolities.

1) Tyranids - I have done some painting on the bugs over the past few months. I finished base coating all the models I have assembled, as well as completing my Tervigon, Tyrannofex, a group of Raveners, a Mawloc, and now I'm finishing up my Swarmlord. Next up will be to finish some Termagants and Hormagaunts.

2) Rohirrim - I have almost completely finished painting all my LOTR figs. I have about 20 figs left mostly characters that I will rarely use (Boromir, Gandalf, etc.) That means in the past year I have painted roughly 80 figs.

3) Wood Elves - I have started putting the finishing touches on my converted Treekin unit. I have 3 finished now with a plan for 3 more. I also pulled out my converted Treeman which is in the early stages of construction.

4) Eldar - I pulled out my casting gear and have begun to setup for my first casting of the custom bases that I constructed.

Cheers!

Custom Table

We're still working on the table. It will likely not be ready for the NOVA open (maybe next year?) BUT at the end of the day (or whenever we finish it) we'll have a badass table to use.

Workbench: cutting planks for the ship and molding tiles for the table.



Table Construction

Stairs

Part of the board has a retraining wall that will have a road and stairs leading up to it. I made a foam base for the stairs.


Then added tiles.


Foam core and tiles comparrison.


Tiles completed. A decorative railing will be added later.


Retaining wall

Tim had a brilliant idea to break the retaining wall up using grates. I'm going to add some paperclip bars for the grate and then maybe hollow the board in a little to make it look like there is a passage into the back.

The wires will connect to the lanterns (also Tim's idea). There is a small pvc pipe under the tiles that houses the wires.

Scale: Satyxis Raider fits nicely into the alcove.



Ship building

Blue insulation foam measured thrice. Given my lack of any sort of woodshop skills I was nervous about cutting this: especially using the wire cutting tool by hand. I made a 90 degree edge using the corner of a 'For Sale' sign and then I took the metal edge off the measuring tape so I could lay it flat on the board. Something tells me I should get actual appropriate tools in the future.


Cut 1: removing the body from the foam. I used the wire rod (not the cheese slicer looking one).


Many cuts later: the two small holes will be masts. The large square cut towards the bow (front) will have a metal mesh that will function like an open hold. The two side squares carved out will have cannons. The aft (rear) will house the engine and steering. Deathjack and Satyxis Raider for comparrison.


That's all for now. I'll add better pictures of the planks I put on the ship as well as my progress on my Cryx army (need to finish that and start painting!).

I'm on a boat!

L'orenoque
http://www.modelexpo-online.com/product.asp?ITEMNO=MV23W

The above link is an image of a model sail and steam ship. It is actually a kit that goes for about $500.

Never fear I won't be buying anything like that... anytime soon. What I will be doing is using it as inspiration. Remember that board I said I was working on? I mentioned pictures? The pictures were full of lies but the board was not. It falls on my shoulders to add to the harbor scene the raiding vessel!

Here's the plan:

• Steam and sail ship
• 7" wide by 26-27" long
• 2 masts
• 2 decks
• 6 guns (3 on each side)
  
• wide open deck space so raiding player can set up her/his forces on the ship with enough room
• paddle wheel will be one large wheel in the back of the ship with the engine room also in the back with the exhaust pipes coming out at 45 degrees
• fore section will be built up if time allows

Construction

1. foam core base
2. office depot stirring sticks for wooden planks
   
3. balsa wood dowels for masts
4. aaaaaand I'm still working on the rest, more to come
   

The time has come my friends...

...to speak of many things. Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax of carpenters... building ships.

Despite the silence I have been active.

The NoVA open tournament is coming up in August. Tim (I sent out the pictures of the house he was building) and I are building a board to submit to a scenario tournament. Best board wins. Additionally I signed up for the Warmachine/Hordes "softcore" tournament. Basically for the new folk who don't want the crap kicked out of them in the regular tournaments.

I need to build a ship.

Also if you don't follow the webpage Massive Voodoo then you are missing out:

http://massivevoodoo.blogspot.com/

http://www.coolminiornot.com/278799

Pictures to follow!

The more things change...

If you haven't heard it by now: GW is raising prices.

The best part about GW news (hell any news from anywhere really) is to read the blog chatter about it. Like wildfire the news will spread between popular blogs and websites. Granted the most vocal people (the ones with websites) aren't always the best informed or even have best perspective of the event they are commenting on. I like to think that by reading several different sites I'll get a better idea of the whole picture.

The sad fact is, you do not, in fact, get a better picture. You get a bunch of poorly informed fans screaming into the guano strewn, dank bat-cave that is the Internet. Why you stepped into the putrid hole we'll never know. Perhaps you thought there would be a kernel of truth amid all the offal?

What I have learned is that everyone can really be broken down into two camps: 1. pillars of frothing rage vs. 2. melancholy indifference.

The later category might be the most intriguing because of their sad and resigned tone; as if they were expecting this sort of behavior and have become inured to it.

The first group, the angry crowd, tend to focus on how GW is destroying themselves as a company. These posts generally read like a date who was dumped before prom night, someone in the throws of a "deep relationship" who has suddenly and unceremoniously been blown out of the water by the other person's behavior.

A bit of advice, sugar, is GW doesn't love you, it is not your friend, it is and always will be a business with shareholders to appease.

I do not have a business degree. I know enough about money to handle my own finances. As such I am free to comment about the business practices of GW my words ring a little hollow with my amateur-at-best understanding.

Despite this, though, there is an underlying theme of general dissent and displeasure about the company even from some of the more stalwart apologists. However, despite that GW's business practices have paid off because I believe they posted record (for their recent trend at any rate) earnings.

Let's get a few things straight though: we are a niche market. The demand for this particular product is low. Most people who wander into a GW store think they sell traditional board games (Monopoly, Scrabble, etc) and often walk away confused or chortling, "NERDS!" as they walk back to their SUV's. This is not a poor man's hobby. Even if you somehow manage to scratch build an entire force you're still going to sink a significant amount of cash into the project, nevermind time.

Then you have all of the other miniature companies who are not raising their prices.

What. Does. That. Mean?

I don't know but it upsets everyone to the point that many are flocking to other gaming systems. A friend of mine is a long time 40K player. He jumped ship to Flames of War and Privateer Press in response and he is not alone!

Only time will tell what happens. It would be hard to imagine a world without GW. But a franchise THAT big does not go down easily.

Tomb Kings!

Models are up for advance order! New plastic kits for Tomb Guard, and 2 new units in the form of Cobra cavalry, and a giant ass Sphinx!!!