Might of the Imperium (A Deathwatch and Vostroyan project)

[Theradrussian]

Greetings, servants of the Emperor with access to the data-access domain of the Administratum! (All unauthorized access attempts will be logged, and those caught will be given over to the Mechanicus for use as bilge-pump servitors).

 

Anyways, without further ado, I present to you the general list that I intend to be running/building in the project log (note, I am not a hugely competitive gamer, as I dropped out at the the end of 5th and only had my first 2 games of 7th edition today. Tat being said, I do appreciate any list critique as long as it isn't just "lel, nOOB, just take max grav-biker mehreens!". I want to minimize the damage to my already sickly wallet if possible!):

 

+ HQ (185pts) +

Pedro Kantor, Chapter Master, Crimson Fists (185pts) [Warlord]

+ Elites (200pts) +

Terminator Assault Squad (200pts) [Terminator Sgt w/ Lightning Claws, 4x Terminator w/ Lightning Claws]

+ Troops (505pts) +

Tactical Squad (255pts) [7x Space Marine, Space Marine w/ Lascannon, Space Marine w/ Meltagun]
Razorback [Twin-linked Assault Cannon]
Sergeant [Chainsword, Combi Melta]

Tactical Squad (250pts) [7x Space Marine, Space Marine w/ Flamer, Space Marine w/ Lascannon]
Razorback [Twin-linked Assault Cannon]
Sergeant [Chainsword, Combi Flamer]

+ Fast Attack (125pts) +

Stormtalon Gunship (125pts) [skyhammer Missile Launcher]

+ Heavy Support (260pts) +

Land Raider Crusader (260pts) [Multi-melta]

++ Astra Militarum: Codex (2014) (Allied Detachment) (721pts) ++

+ HQ (161pts) +

Company Command Squad (161pts) [Carapace Armour, Veteran w/ Lasgun]
Chimera [Heavy Bolter, Multi-laser]
Company Commander [Carapace Armour, Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol, Orders]
Veteran Lascannon Team [Lasgun]
Veteran w/ Vox-caster [Lasgun]

+ Troops (360pts) +

Veterans (175pts) [Grenadiers, 3x Veteran w/ Meltagun, 5x Veteran w/ Shotgun]
Chimera [Heavy Bolter, Multi-laser]
Veteran Sergeant [Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol]
Veteran w/ Vox-caster [Lasgun]

Veterans (185pts) [Grenadiers, 6x Veteran w/ Lasgun, 3x Veteran w/ Plasma Gun]
Chimera [Heavy Bolter, Multi-laser]
Veteran Sergeant [Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol]

+ Heavy Support (200pts) +

Leman Russ Squadron (200pts)
Executioner [2x Plasma Cannons, Camo Netting, Heavy Bolter]

 

 

The rationale behind this was that I have vostroyans that I wanted to include, and that I also like deathwatch (and that Pedro seemed pretty solid with hammernators). In the future, I do intend to convert a vulture with punisher cannon for the guard, and to add some inquisitorial elements to the roster. But that will come in time. In theory, I have all the minis I need to make this force, although most are still unassembled.

 

 

And that brings me to my first update! The big news is that I will be learning how to handle my airbrush in this project, so I expect a fair bit of swearing on my part, but also that I will be learning a fair amount along the way!

 

http://i.imgur.com/fomwTfI.jpg(my newly-acquired H&S Evolution, with 0.2 and 0.4mm needle kits)

 

And here are the minis I have worked on! 

 

http://i.imgur.com/ShqAGQF.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/2WyBBeA.jpg

 

And now for my Guard vehicles!

http://i.imgur.com/aIU4Zq0.jpg

 

And here's a close-up of the "bungaroo" pattern chimera (the plan is for all chimeras to be like this)

http://i.imgur.com/LvgzR9h.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/M4SwHfN.jpg

 

That's pretty much all for now: The next phase will be to try some pre-shading with black and white onto the grey primer before I try some very thin layers of black on the marines. The next vehicle I build (after I complete the russ, of course) will probably be the stormtalon, so that I can use him in a game next weekend.

 

C&C greatly appreciated, especially with regards to any recommendations on painting black beyond just edge-highlighting!

 

 

[Doghouse]

Very nice start, great conversion work on the chimera. :tu:

[HighGothic]

Awesome! Yeah, that chimera looks great.

[Commissar Molotov]

Some very intriguing conversions on the Deathwatch. Would certainly look forward to seeing more of them! 

[Theradrussian]

Slight as this update may seem, it does mark me having been able to figure out a little more about my airbrush, and work towards being able to getting a painted force together!

 

First off, the Leman Russ got some treads (i'm not sure what that rogue glue-spot looking thing is-it may have just been a droplet of water. I also see that the seam in the hull is more visible than I first though, so I'll be breaking out the milliput for this one!):

http://i.imgur.com/klnGZlX.jpg

 

And the Deathwatch marines are starting to look the part with a bit of black on them (some haven't been sprayed black yet, and others need a second pass of the stuff- that will probably be happening right after I get this typed up).

 

http://i.imgur.com/mmWdQKz.jpg

 

And finally, here are some close-ups of a few of the original members of the army (initially made to be a kill-team for HoR's rules):

http://i.imgur.com/Fjgjzme.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/mbCSNjl.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/CYdLKeh.jpg

 

That's about it for the moment. The next few steps are to get a marine a day painted this week to have a combat squad ready for Saturday, and to get some more of the sub-assemblies of the Stormtalon built!

 

But before I dive into the painting of the marines, I have a question for the more experienced painters than I: Would it make sense for me to do a zenithal spray of black/grey over them, followed by a second, slightly brighter coat before I move onto edge highlights?

[Theradrussian]

And yet again, I find myself drawn to picking up the airbrush and trying to master its secrets. This will either lead to me adding a whole new dimension of options to my hobby repertoire, or straight into the deepest pits of madness and frustration. Luckily, this one is much, much easier to clean than the chinese knockoff I once borrowed.

 

And below are the fruits of that labor! Yes, I only managed to prime them, but I'll take my victories where I can get them at this stage!

http://i.imgur.com/XpLli9b.jpg

 

Next up will be getting the cockpit of my stormtalon primed, and seeing how much of the librarian I can get painted, as he has more robes than black armor to paint, and I'm undecided on how to do that for now. Again, I'm still on the hunt for tips regarding painting black armor beyond just edge highlights, so please share any info you may have on that! 

[Theradrussian]

And some actual brushwork has been done! Although admittedly, far from as much as I would have liked, and not to the standard I used to paint to...then again, what do I except having only actually completed 2 minis in the last 1.5 years...luckily this poor guy isn't in my final army list:

 

http://i.imgur.com/iMJWB9r.jpg?1

 

Soooo, I painted a face. Yeah, that was all I managed to do today. Even though I have the excuse of only having got home at 7:15, and not having sat down to paint before about 8 (dinner and all that), I still feel like I need to do a lot of painting now to find all that muscle-memory I like to think I have.

 

C&C would be greatly appreciated, as I have a lot of catching up to my old standard to do, let alone learning new things!