PLOG: Nicodemus Gears-up for a Tournament in May

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

As I wrote HERE, I'm in the process of gearing-up for a local tournament at the end of May. I toyed with the idea of bringing by Blood Angels, but decided on sticking with my tried and true (well, they've lost every battle I've fielded them in 7th edition but everygame was close and fun so what they hey) combo army of the Emperor's Own Valkan Rifles with Inquisition "observers".

I've tried crafting a list that is a bit harder than my usual lists, but still true to myself, as it includes Rough Riders (who I hope will be a dark horse unit against the Adepticon types I'll be facing who certainly have never seen a roughrider before) and Scions. I figured I'd share my progress in a PLOG as I am wont to do. Fortunately most of the army is already done, but I do need to paint up some ratlings, a Vanquisher command tank, and a shiny new Inquisitor in TDA.

I started work on the ratlings yesterday. Some minor modifications, primed, and skin painted per my usual technique of painting "inside out":

Hmmm ... not the best pics my iPhone has ever taken, but you get the idea. I gave a light glazing with Bloodletter to the faces in an attempt to give them more of a ruddy, Hobbit-ish look. Makes them look more sunburnt but it's acceptable to me.

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

Oh, and here's a bonus early WIP shot of Captain-Commissar Noel LeBarbera* in his command Vanquisher (I've got a whole page of fluff on him but you have to wait until he's painted):

*Observant readers will notice that all my troops have Polish-sounding names, however, I am staying true to the fluff that commissars always come from off-planet. Hence, Commissar Drurary who accompanies the EOVR, and now this bloke.

[spafe]

I get the feeling this is going to be a mighty fine plog right here!

[lionofjudah]

Always loved the ballsy stance of the commiserat tank commander!! Looking forward to seeing your new stuff nico

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

Thanks, comrades.

Here's another shot of the commissar tank commander. I want to give him relic plating. For 3 points, I think it's a worthy investment since there are lots of points invested in the command squadron and I'll be facing lots of psychic stuff. Plus with all the funky Inquisition point values, I actually had exactly 3 points left over when designing my list. The question is, where to position the relics?

I tried on the front of the hull on the top of the viewport to the left of the hull gun, but this interferes with the rotation of the turret. The sponsons already have smoke launchers and stowage on top of them. I don't really want the relics hidden on the back of the tank, so this is what I thougth:

How do you think that placement looks? Should I have the relics centred on the turret? Or do you have any other ideas? Maybe with some green stuff I could stick the relics between the viewport and the hull weapon on the front ...

[Toxichobbit]

Good start there. I like the ruddy complexion of the Ratlings, really fits with their background. Also the Commissar Tank Commander is fantastic - I have (almost - mine is the version without the gas mask) the same model ready to go in one of my Leman Russ Vanquishers.

 

The Russ' stowage, is that hand made?

 

Also what are you planning on using for the relics - just the Space Marine reliquary in the picture, or are you adding more?

[hendrik]

I would incorporate the relics into the actuall plating of the russ. how about cutting that piece in half and attaching both sides on the armoured turret panels, using greenstuff to represent the welded on cages containing the relics?

[WarriorFish]

Cool, we'll be following your progress with interest Nico :tu: Your models all look great, the ruddy faces works well and the tank is going to be very nice indeed with all the extra work.

[scatmandoo]

Love the Vanquisher and the pose of the commissar suits it too.

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

I bought the stowage off eBay years ago and can't remember the name of the company that made it. The air filters are Forgeworld.

 

I'm planning on just using the space marine relic for the relic playing. Thanks for the input Hendril upon reflection I think built into hull would look better too.

[Father Mehman]

Relic Plating? I may just have to follow this...

[Chefzilla]

I've never really had a use for Relic Plating. It adds Adamantium Will to that crew.

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

With three points left over it was either a third servo skull or relic plating. I likely won't need it but all it takes is an enemy targeting that squadron once (especially with something like puppet master) to be well worth it. If it were more points I wouldn't bother by the plating protects both tanks and I'm told the meta is psyker heavy so seems better than that third servo skull (two can cover tyr board and stymie White Scars anyway).

[Uprising]

He needs a sword, so he can hit his enemies with it. 

[Quicksilver117]

I am excited to the the great DEEMUS working his way on the path to victory and will watch with great joy for the batreps of his battles.

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

I am excited to the the great DEEMUS working his way on the path to victory and will watch with great joy for the batreps of his battles.

LOL ... thanks, but I don't know if you can call a guy who's gone 0-7-1 in 7th edition "great", but whether I forge a path to victory or not I'm sure lots of fun will be had and we'll take lots of filthy xenos and heretics with us. And I'm looking forward to writing up the batreps for you, my comrades-in-arms

Here's a brief little update for tonight: I took Henrik's advice about using green stuff to make the relic look welded-on, although I didn't try cutting it in half because in my estimate it's too thin and will curl. So I jammed a bunch of greenstuff to make it look like the crew welded a little box full of relics of the honoured dead onto the front of the hull to keep witchcraft at bay:

Added a few other gribblies like the communications pack on the turret (company commander must needs comms!) and some handles, and I'm satisfied tank #220 of Lord Jagiello's Hussars is ready for undercoating (It was undercoated shortly after this picture was taken; on a side note I am not too happy with the Army Painter "Matt Black Primer" I bought because it's not matte at all, it's actually quite shiny, so I'm definitely going back to GW primer next time):

Finally, here's a grainy, poor resolution shot of the army as it is shaping-up so far (the Inquisitorial vehicles look unpainted, but as readers of the "Road to Astronomi-con" thread will see, they actually are, just camouflaged against the black cabinetry). All that we're missing is the command tank, the platoon command squad's chimera, one autocannon team, four Scions (95% done but at my office) and Lord Inquisitor Soulis in his new armour:

[scatmandoo]

Looking great and I like the new location of the relic.

 

Need a bigger picture of the army shot though. Hehe

[WarriorFish]

Good stuff Nico, when will we start seeing some paint on her?

[Father Mehman]

I second Scats on that relic positioning. The Green Stuff weld looks like it will hold up to some serious fire !

This reminds me to get my Inquisition Chimeras painted up...and built.

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

Good stuff Nico, when will we start seeing some paint on her?

Well I'm hoping to start painting tonight. I hope to have another WIP shot up sometime this weekend.

[WarriorFish]

Excellent! :D

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

Good stuff Nico, when will we start seeing some paint on her?

Here she is, along with the PCS chimera at about the mid-point pre-camo and pre-weathering:

Coulours are a bit washed-out due to the bright sunlight. They are darker than they appear.

For those who are interested, my technique is to undercoat black, then I apply Tamiya "Hull Red" to the tracks, and a base coat of "German Grey" to the body of the tank. The camo netting then gets a base of "Khaki Drab". Next I then apply a layer of Tamiya "Dark Grey", which is applied in what I call a "lazy, quasi-dry brush". I basically put a normal amount of paint on my brush and apply to large flat areas and as it starts running out of paint his areas with rivets and raised bits. I actually ran out of "German Grey" after painting the Vanquisher so I decided to just to a base of "Dark Grey" on the Chimera since I've suspected for a while that the two greys are superfluous given the amount of shading I do to weather (I paint the whole tank with Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil).

Next step will be to start the camp stripes by stippling-on Citadel "Scorched Brown", with then a smaller stripe on top of Tamiya "Red Brown". Then I just need to pick out the eagles in white, put some Citadel "Lead Belcher" on various weapons and put some colours on the stowage. Then as mentioned I'll hit the whole thing with a generous wash of "Agrax Eathshade" and "Nuln Oil" ... unfortunately I've forgotten which of those two I do first! I think Nuln goes second. Then I'll finish it off with a bunch of Citadel "Graveyard Earth" applied messily to make it look muddy. I am running low on my last pot of Graveyard Earth and the new "Steel Legion Drab" is just slightly different but for now I'm okay. Fortunately I noticed that my pot was getting low early enough into my Blood Angels that I was able to do their bases in Steel Legion so my AM and =][= stuff can be consistent.

[Father Mehman]

Yay for the Multilaser !

That sounds like an excellent camouflage scheme. Can't wait to see it!

[WarriorFish]

Coming along nicely already :tu: Though I've not really noticed a difference between Graveyard Earth and Steel Legion Drab, I'll have to compare models now...

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

Sorry to disappoint the treadheads, but I gave the Ratlings some care and attention this evening, and haven't made any further progress on the tanks. The little hobbit sharp-shooters are getting close to being done, just a few details and basing left at this point. On the whole I'm happy although I think I chose the wrong green for the pea-dot camouflage. I was going to use khaki instead of the brighter green, but thought there would be too little contrast. I think this may be too much, and using khaki would have tied the camo in more with the oak-leaf camo the Grenadiers have.

Not sure why so many people hate on these models. I think these guys are looking pretty good even if I say so myself -- ready to put some long-las rounds through riptide eye-slits!