Tale of 40K Gamers - Jake - Tyranids Initial Pedge complete

Here is the completed force from Jake's Get Started Tyranid box.

Jake has done brilliant work unifying his force.  The natural paint scheme has carried across all the models and the dismembered Ultramarines work as nice areas of spot colour to break up the browns.  He has really done an amazing job on these.

I saw some of these in person last night and I especially like how Jake has used some spare bio-morphs to make bugs on the bases as well.

You can see more in depth photos and descriptions on Jake's blog "Boyo Paints" in the sidebar.  Here is a direct link to his Hive Tyrant article.

Now that Jake and I have finished our first 400 points and a couple other participants are not too far behind, its time to think about what step 2 will be.

Tale of 40k Gamers -Glen #5 Word Bearers - Initial pledge complete

Here is the final unit of my initial 400 point pledge.  The Contemptor Dreadnought from the Betrayal at Calth set.

I painted it using the same methods I employed on the Marines but on a larger scale.  I added a lot of chipping using the sponge technique, along with freehand and some transfers it breaks up the flat red panels.

As it was a nice large model to paint I made up a simple custom base.  Just a GW building floor section, textured paint, slate and a skull.   I painted the floor panels in a turquoise blue tone to match the eye lenses on all the suits of armour then washed and weathered it to tone it down.

Now it's time to motivate a couple of the other guys to catch up a bit before moving to the next segment.  In the meantime there is always plenty to paint.  I may even do another initial 400 point pledge using the FW Heretic list.  They will go nicely alongside the Word Bearers.

...and here is the full starting group complete.  I have quite a collection of unpainted Chaos miniatures but if anyone has any suggestions for additions to the Defilers of Calth please share.

Tale of 40K Gamers - Sam #3 Flesh Tearers

After showing us his Scouts and Drop Pod, Sam has sent in another update!

Here in all their glory is his full ten man Flesh Tearer Tactical Squad.

Looking at the images you can see Sam has equipped them with Meltagun, Heavy flamer and a pair of inferno pistols on the sergeant.  I would think they will deploy via Drop Pod, combat squad out and be able to effectively engage two different units(well that's how I do it).

As with his other Flesh Tearers, Sam has based them all in a nice consistent manner which I think looks really good against the dark red and black of the armour.

 He has built them using parts from the Blood Angel Tactical Squad and Death Company sets.  I would recommend using these along with the Sanguinary Guard for anyone building Blood Angels or their successors.

Excellent work Sam, now you just have to learn the ways of 40K ;)

Tale of 40K Gamers - Sam #2 Flesh Tearers

We have an update from Sam.  He has sent these through and it shows some nice progress on his Drop Pod and squad of Sniper Scouts

I think the basing really nicely goes with these miniatures and will look good across the entire force.

Tale of 40K Gamers - Alex #1 Tau

Another participant in our little group project is Alex.  Over the last few years he has worked on Chaos Marines, Deathwing, Necrons and now Tau.(You can see the move to competitive play in the armies)

With GW's Get Started army boxes being such a good deal, Alex bought into Tau.  Taking inspiration from the Covenant in the Halo universe Alex has gone with a primary purple colour with blue light effects and they are looking good.

 Here is his first batch of Fire Warriors.

Tale of 40k Gamers - Glen #4 Word Bearers

I have completed my first full 10 man squad of Word Bearers.  Like the previous miniatures they are all taken from the Betrayal at Calth set.  In the second five I added the ever versatile missile launcher, it should do the trick vs other forces in the group project.

Now all of the squad have not only freehand geometric  symbols and scripture, but all Legion markings with transfers.  I don't usually use transfers but the ones included look pretty good.  Two coats of varnish should keep theme in good order.

Next up on the painting table will be the final part of my initial pledge, the Contemptor Dreadnought and also a Deathwing Land Raider for a friend.

Tale of 40K Gamers - Glen #3 Word Bearers

I am steadily moving through my initial 400 points having completed 4 Tactical marines.  These join the sergeant shown previously as half of my first Word Bearer Tactical/Chaos Marine squad.

Like the Chaplain and Sergeant I have made freehand designs on the armour and added runic script and sigils.  I will attempt to use the provided transfers for Legion markings but I may end up doing them freehand as well.

5 more to go including a missile launcher and the Contemptor Dreadnought.

Tale of 40k Gamers - Sam #1 Flesh Tearers

Our hobby project is moving along nicely with some of the local gamers.

Sam is participating by building a Flesh Tearers force.  He has done a fantastic job on Gabriel Seth the Chapter Master.  I believe his next unit will be a tactical squad.

Tale of 40K Gamers - Glen #2 Word Bearer Sergeant

I have been working through the Word Bearers from Betrayal at Calth.  All are assembled and base coated with the old airbrush.

To fill out my initial 400 points I'll use a squad of 10 Word Bearers with plasma gun and missile launcher, the Chaplain as a Dark Apostle and as a Contemptor is a bit high points wise I'll use the Dreadnought as a Hellbrute.

Here is the finished sergeant for the squad.  I added a book from the Skaven Plague Monk set and the backpack icon and a bolt pistol from a Chaos Marine set.  I have painted the runes again on the armour, careful linework giving a sense of etching on the armour.

Tale of 40K Gamers - Tyranids

Jake who is participating in our group hobby project has shared a look at his first painted unit.  The Gargoyles from the Tyranid Starter force.

Jake has returned to gaming this year after a hiatus.  He has taken to the hobby side of it very well and has produced some fantastic looking Dark Angels in a short space of time.  The Tyranids give him a nice change in palette and techniques.  Excellent work!

Tale of 40k Gamers - Wrythhold edition

Over the past few weeks there has been discussion amongst our gaming group about new projects for the year.  These coincided with GW releasing the new Army Starter boxes.

We normally look at making armies for competitive play but we all enjoy campaign and narrative play more.  Looking at the new box sets they all clock in around 400 points so it seems a good place to start.

We have around 8 people participating so far with a good spread of army choices.  The guidelines are to make a new Army from new products or for me, use things from my vast unused collection and turn them into a painted army.

Stage 1
Make and paint a 400 point force with the following restrictions.
1 HQ
1 Troop
1-2 choices from Troop, Elite, Fast or Heavy.

Ryan has put together an excellent document with suggestions and guidelines covering all these things.

Once participants have their core forces ready we will arrange a gaming day of narrative battles. Following additions to the armies will then be arranged.

I have chosen Heretics from Imperial Armour 13 and Word Bearers using the Betrayal at Calth miniatures.  This will encourage me to get real work done with the Heretic forces I have toyed around with from the Forge World of Wrakinos, a setting I have used for the Rogue Trader rpg and small 40k games with Alex.  The Chaplain/Dark Apostle is the first miniature from the Calth set I have worked on so far.