Temur Khan of the White Scars - Warhammer Doncaster - 420 minute painting challenge COMPLETED!

 

With a spray of grit and ice, Temur Khan ripped his motorbike in a sharp turn lining up on another Greenskin.

His display pinged and he depressed the trigger button, stitching twin lines of firepower into the alien as it charged from its rickety transport. More were following it as the vehicle exploded, several being thrown through the air to land heavily, limbs thrown unnaturally in death.

He fired his bolters and slashed with his sword as he tore through the footsoldiers of the enemy. Thick, black blood arced from his blade as he crashed further through the battlefield.

All around him his brotherhood fought the aliens who had invaded this planet for a second time under their insane leader. He couldn't make his mind up if it was pure chance or intended that Ghazkull Mag Uruk Thraka had led his forces back to Armageddon.

He decided it wasn't important as he beheaded another bellowing monster, gunning the engine as he passed.

He was issuing orders to one of his squadrons of bikers when a series of shots ricocheted from the front faring of his bike.

"Stormseer Yesugei, move the brotherhood towards the water processing plant to the north, I will follow shortly" he ordered to his second in command.

"As you will, my Khan" the Stormseer psychically communicates back.

Temur Khan roared off towards the incoming firepower, a bellowing Ork boss riding its own form of cobbled together motorbike.

The display on his own machine rapidly counting down the meters to the target,, he turned off the collision chime.

The beast aimed it's bike straight at him hefting an oversized chain-axe in one huge arm, it's teeth already whirling. From previous expired, he knew that the Ork would ride straight into its enemy rather then break off.

He readied his own sword and angled his steering ever so slightly as he hurtled towards his enemy. At the last second his activated the weapons power field and turned the handlebars more as he learnt out of the saddled and carved through Ork and machine with the energised weapon.

Slewing around after the wreckage had come to a stop, he rode up and stabbed his sword through the head of the Ork which was still cursing him in it's harsh language.

Ensuring the creature was now dead and the Speed Kult destroyed, he turned northwards to catch up with his brotherhood as they fought to clear these lands of the scourge which had come to Hiveworld Armageddon again.

*****

So, in my previous post I mentioned that I was taking part in a painting challenge today.

I'm happy to report that I managed to get Temur Khan completed with ten minutes to spare.

I followed my White Scars scheme which I haven't painted in nearly three years now but remembered easily enough.

Ulthuan Grey basecoat for the white.

Leadbelcher and Retributor Armour for the metals. 

Khorne Red, layered with Mephiston Red for the details.

Rhinox Hide, layered with Mournfang Brown for the leather bag and pouches.

Stormvermin Fur for the tires and Black Templars contrast for the black details.

Finally a little Averland Sunset for the lightning bolts.

His skintone is Kislev Flesh and washed with Seraphim Sepia. I wanted to try to get a more Oriental shade to his face, considering these guys are meant to be Mongolian's in SPAAAACE!

I nearly messed the entire thing up at 17.10 this evening when I was going to add a highlight to his face using Kislev Flesh. 

Good job I looked at my brush before applying it as I'd accidentally picked up the pot of Averland Sunset and was about to paint his face deep yellow...

I'm happy he's done, even though he wasn't a miniature I was planning on painting this week...my current unit project seems to be going on forever...

I'm even more happy that I made the deadline for finishing, to say that he was in pure primer at 10.30 this morning!

In hobby news, Temur Khan adds 8 points to my local painting challenge, both Duncan and Grant painted larger things (an Ad-Mech Armiger type and a Stegadon respectively) so gain 14 points each pushing them two past my score so far.

For hobby bingo, he adds another hero box on that first column, nearly giving me a complete line:

So a productive day all round hobby wise.

Until next time...

 - Lewis

Warhammer Doncaster - 420 minute painting challenge.

 

Our local Games Workshop/Warhammer store has a great manager, certainly better then some we have had over the years.

Grant, who is now taking part in the local painting challenge of the month, is a great guy, always ready with advice and for a chat about life, the universe and all.

Throughout "LOCKDOWN III: THE THIRD STRIKE" he has been using the store's Facebook page to run challenges, brain teasers and keep ontop of engaging with the local community here.

Today marks a painting challenge and this post documents the start of that:

So, a 7 hour window the paint a model up to completion. Sounds easy, if you were painting a grunt, but the keyword there is to  "Challenge" yourself.

So to that end, I've gone for a complete 'blast from the past' from my gaming history and decided to get my long half built White Scars captain sorted for today.

He's built from the Deathwatch White Scar who was part of Killteam Cassius whom I picked up when they were released.

As part of the allowance here he is fully primed and ready to be painted in his sub-assemblies:

I'll post my progress at 17.30 tonight and see if I can complete him in the time limit.

Until next time...

 - Lewis

Gryph-hounds of the Star-Fated Lords Stormhost.

The Stormcast Eternals of the Star-Fated Lords Stormhost made camp in the foothills of the Drakespine Mountains. They had been working on an expanding patrol route of the foothills after receiving word of Black-Axe Brayherd movement's to the north of Ancestors' Fyrd.

Corine Silverheart, the Knight-Incantor meditated in her tent as the Lord-Castellant Andrius Suresteel and Knight-Concussor Arinos Swiftsoul conversed.

"I do not like this waiting Lord" Swiftsoul spoke up, "We seem to be inviting ambush by the cursed beastmen".

"We are not inexhaustible my friend" Suresteel replied, "Even the champions of the Storm King need to take rest occasionally".

"Yes Lord, but apart from our sentries here we seem rather vulnerable, especially camped here near the Ruins of Whitestone".

"True, we are in an exposed position, but I wouldn't have wanted to rest inside those haunted walls, would you? Besides, we are not as vulnerable as you think".

"Lord Suresteel, my visions point towards a detachment battling its way from the northwest" Corine Silverheart spoke up now, her eyes still glazed white in the trance.

"We need to muster our forces" Swiftsoul began before Silverheart cut him off.

"They bear the colours of our Stormhost" she said.

"Ah, our Vanguard Detachment is here at last" Suresteel said with a knowing smile.

-----

Four miles northwest of the Stormcast camp, Jermyna Swiftgale sprinted forwards. Her troops of the Vanguard Detachment using their own Swiftfoot spells to keep up with her and the ranging pack of Gryph-hounds she kept with her.

The hounds, eagle headed but with the bodies of miniature lions barked as they called to each other, the wind ruffling their feathered heads as they sprinted and bounded between the conferious trees of the foothills.

With a sudden growl-bark the pack stopped in it's tracks. The alpha moving to join it's package which had called out.

The two creatures sniffed the air and began to weave between the brush and tree trunks slowly.

Jermyna Swiftgale, held up a clenched fist and the entire detachment stopped, coming from full sprint to silent rest in seconds.

She watched the two hounds intently, any reaction from them would be a warning, for it was truly said that one can never surprise a Gryph-hound.

With a start the Alpha clicked it's beak and began barking, the second hound joined in and the pack moved over towards them.

"Defend yourselves, Brayherd ambush" Jermyna shouted to her troops, as the forest came alive with the crashing shapes of the beastmen.

*****

Age of Sigmar has some really cool spectacularly high fantasy models in it's range, a lot of which have been produced since the game was released after the death of Warhammer Fantasy Battle (I'm not getting into that here!).

The Stormcast Eternals are the games flagship faction and have seen the most attention, obviously.

Some of my favourite things that have been released have been the creature additions to the Stormcast range.

From the Aetherhawks, to the Gryph-Chargers and the mighty Stardrake.

These Gryph-Hounds are the Azyr equivalent of a hunting dog.

I gave these a more muted tone then the box art or some I have seen online, or as I have produced in the past when I previously painted one to accompany my Lord Castellant.

Mainly a series of dull tawny browns for the bodies, remeniscent of a lion.

Along with the white eagle head, the combination of which makes the pack resemble miniature Griffon's, but without the wings.

It dosen't show up well in the photo's, but the white feathers actually have an undercurrent of electric blue beneath them, something to denoted their magical nature.

The bronze and red accoutrements tie them to my Stormhost. 

The Alpha-Hound here also has a series of black feathers around his head, as well as his bronze headgear denoting the pack leader.

Finally, as I plan to add these to a Vanguard Chamber detachment, here is a photo of them with the detachment leader, Jermyna Swiftgale:

With these six beasties out of the way, that's another "Unit of 2+ models" box crossed out on the Hobby Bingo grid, pushing me well into the lead, until Chris and Dave post some stuff and catch up. They've both made noise that they have post's to produce, so keep an eye on their blog's as well.

These models also give me another six points in my challenge with Duncan. Bringing me up to 23 points in total.

As we both have a week of annual leave currently, I'm hoping to get more of a tally going,, as I know he's probably working on something super-heavy for lots of points...

Until next time...

 - Lewis

Court of the Briar Queen.

Regally, the Briar Queen seemed to sit upon a throne carved from cold gravestones, overlooking the mausoleum which served her as a ghastly court. Dust moved through the shafts of light from the portholes built into the once luxurious funeral home, none of the Nighthaunt present paid any attention to it.

Harridans waited her attention paitently as only the dead could. They looked around with their dead eyes at a world full of spirits.

At the queen's side was her faithful servent and executioner, Liekeron. He had been in service to his queen since before his mortal death, a champion in life, now in death that service continued. 

He raised a spectral hand and pointed down the court.

"A spirit approaches my queen" a dry whisper eminated from underneath his hood.

Immediately the Harridans moved to block the path. Whilst it was true that spirits could pass through physical blockades, their spectral bretheren were another matter entirely.

Hissing with the impudentcy of this interloper, the Harridans raised their scythe arms and the leader moved forwards.

"State your business here wraith!" She hissed.

"I bring word for  the Briar Queen from Mistress Amondrizel" the wraith replied, it's own voice a cracked dry whisper, not unlike Liekerons' own.

The Briar Queen motioned for the messenger to approach her throne.

"Mistress Amondrizel sends word that Vornos Ravenhold has been defeated at the Battle of Iron Ridge however his spectral form has resurfaced in Shyish and he gathers forces to attempt to overthrow the Mortarch of Grief. Mistress Amondrizel has the proof you will need to confront him, however that will only be possible after defeating him in battle and weakening his forces so" the messenger relayed.

"Overthrow the Mortarch? Impossible"

"Lord Nagash would stop such upstart action surely?"

"My Queen, we should march against him".

The tumult of whispering dead voices was the equivalent of an uproar in that deathly quiet space.

The light seemed to dim even further to almost blackness around the throne as the Queen contemplated her actions.

"Silence!" She screeched, "It is unthinkable that the Mortarch could be overthrown, but we should not count it as an impossibility. My upstart brother has long sought to control his destiny away from Lord Nagash and the Mortarch of Grief".

The spectre's floated in the darkness, silent as the grave awaiting her orders.

"Liekeron, yes we should march against him, raise my troops. Crone Agathia, you will rouse as many of your Harridan sisters as you can to join us".

"My lady, do you have any message to send back to Mistress Amondrizel?" The messenger asked.

"Yes actually, tell her to send word of where he is planning to strike, if possible she is to sabotage his forces without being caught and when the time comes, she is to betray my brother on the field".

"As you wish" and the messenger melted away into the darkness as the other spirits began moving away upon their assigned tasks.

The Briar Queen sat back down in the darkness contemplating the times ahead. Especially the time when she would face her own long dead brother in battle.

*****

For a while now I've been collecting the partwork magazine Mortal Realms.

This is the Age of Sigmar version of the 40k Conquest weekly magazine which was put out by the same publisher.

One of the big draws to this magazine is the fact that you often get models included with the £7.99 price tag. 

This post is a great example, The Briar Queen set is from the Shadespire game, but comes with rules for AoS, and retails for around £20. 

Major discount!

So in the center is the Briar Queen herself.

I wanted to make her stand out by giving her the white robe rather then black like her attendents.

My favourite is the guy with the candle holder.

Again from Mortal Realms are these five Dreadscythe Harridans, I have another five on sprue.

I painted these in the same scheme as the Briar Queen, with the white robes. 

These were her personal guard in life and now continue the duty in death.

Whilst the "official" GW fluff lists these as being former healers and nurses, I wanted a more courtly aspect to this group, especially as they are to challenge my previously painted Nighthaunt force.

Finally, is Liekeron the Executioner:

This was a birthday present last year, and I've finally gotten round to finishing him off. 

An easy and enjoyable painting project, he came together in a couple of hours.

He's the personal champion of the Briar Queen, set to seek out and kill enemy champions who threaten the Queen herself.

I'm going to continue building this small force up to roughly the same level as the current Nighthaunt army I previously finished, in order to play a few games detailing the strife of the ghostly undead after they start competing for their Mortarchs' favour.

In hobby news, this little lot crosses off three boxes on my first Bingo grid.

Namely,

• A Hero or Character, the Briar Queen.
• A Hero or Character, Liekeron the Executioner.
• A unit of 2+ model's, the Dreadscythe Harridans.

Bumping me to thirty points and the majority of the first column on the grid complete.

This lot also gives me 17 points to begin with on the painting challenge with Duncan which isn't a bad start (it would have been 34 bit I'd started painting these before the challenge began, so they're all at half points).

I'm going to add some Chainrasps soon as part of her build up of forces, which will add a fourth box on that column.

Until next time...

 - Lewis

Quantity has a Quality all of it's own.

 

Duncan, one of my friends from where I used to work with whom I've stayed in touch messaged me about starting a friendly competition between ourselves to get some of the Pile of Potential cleared off the painting desk or out of the boxes that it currently languishes in.

So with crazy a idea on messenger, we hashed out a rough point scoring system with the aim of completing as much as possible before Saturday 6th March.

The scoring system:

• Infantry - 2 points.
• Mounted - 4 points.
• Medium vehicle (up to Dreadnaught size) - 6 points.
• Large Vehicle (up to Russ) - 8 points.
• Very Large Vehicle (Land Raider) - 10 points.
• Super Heavy - 12 points.
• Titan - 14/16/18 points.

• If also Character +4 points (so infantry character is 6 points).
• If also Lord of War +6 points.
• If the model was already part painted -50% of points (this is why I lowered everything points wise and made everything an even number).

This projecct starts at 00.01 Saturday 6th February, runs until 23.59 Saturday 6th March (all entries must be posted by that date/time code).

Yes I'm a little late posting this as I've been busy recently...

It's mainly for glory and bragging rights, there isn't any real reward other then getting stuff done and finished.

I'm going to run this alongside my Hobby Bingo project and have already started a tally in the top right corner of the blog for points for each project.

Let's see what happens inside a months painting.

Until next time...

 - Lewis

Deathwatch killteam Ermenrich.

"Brothers hold the line" Sergeant Ermenrichs' voice rang across the vox.

His squad were holding what seemed to be a corner between two corridors, however onboard the Tyranid ship it could well be an intersection of veins or air tubes for all the sergeant knew.

He was no ordo-biologis thrall, he was Astartes of the Mentors chapter, currently in service to the Deathwatch. Around him his squad brothers laid down fire with their Bolt Rifle's into another swarm of Hormogaunts.

"Easier said then done Sergeant" Bretheren-Ceallach of the Red Templars replied, "here they come again".

"They outnumber us fifteen-to-one, good odds for any Astartes" Brother-Varius of the Minotaurs sang out, the battle fever upon him.

"True, but a son of Ithaka can best a son of Daedelos at these odds" Klepiades of the Iron Snakes called.

"Stop the chatter" the Sergeants rebuke sounded, "Gustav, check on the Techmarine and see what's taking so long".

"Aye sergeant" was the only reply of. The enigmatic Black Shield before he turned and sprinted away.

The area the squad was holding was the entry point into one of the main chambers said to control the hive ships living functions. Destroying it was said to be equivalent to destroying a creatures heart and brain in one go.

The Ordos Xenos had wasted no time in capitalising on the information annd launched the Deathwatch into action as soon as was practicable.

 Klepiades swung his rifle up as he realised, blasting a leaping gaunt from the air, it's blood misting before splattering on the others charging onwards.

For every one they took down there seemed to be another three to replace it.

"Is there no end to them?" He asked.

"Odds too much for you Snake?" Brother-Varius asked, the smirk on his face audible in his voice.

"Varius down now!" Klepiades bellowed and blasted away at the area Varius had stooped from. As much as they were rivals they were battle-brothers and looked out for each other. 

Sergeant Ermenrich watched with satisfaction that his squad was becoming a well knitted unit. He was fighting side by side with Bretheren-Ceallach, the Red Templar. Only his red shoulder pad bearing the white fleur-de-lis betrayed his originating chapter. The glossy black armour and solid silver shoulder pad of the Deathwatch stood in stark contrast.

"Gustav, what is the delay?" He voxed.

"The Techmarine is working sergeant, the devices spirit was offended by the rough treatment it expirienced upon arrival, he estimates thirty seconds" Gustav replied.

"Squad, form on me and retreat to extraction point alpha, Ermenrich to Sanctus Hope, prepare for emergency extraction teleport" he ordered and as one the marines swung to cover each other as they retreated a few steps at a time down the corridor.

Before them was a pulsing, writhing mass of Xenos, each creature desperate to rip and tear their way through the interlopers on their living ship.

Bodies, claws and chitin fragments flew through the air covered in the ichor of exploded Tyranids.

The squad came into view of Black Shield Gustav and the Techmarine.

"It is done Brother Sergeant, the device will detonate..." The Techmarines' vox relay cut off abruptly as scything claws dug through his chest plate.

"Damn you" Ermenrich cursed, "Brothers we have more to fight than Hormogaunts. Warrior beast's approaching".

Bretheren-Ceallach and Gustav fired greandes from their underslung launchers at the larger beasts, but the Techmarines corpse absorbed most of the blast.

"Ermenrich to Sanctus Hope, Initiate Teleport!" The Sergeant ordered.

He hoped that the Techmarine was correct and that the device would detonate as the world turned white with the teleporter flare.

++++

On the bridge of the Sanctus Hope, Inquisitor Delayth turned to one of the Ordos crew.

"Well? Report" she ordered.

"Auspex shows that the device detonated with sufficient force to vapourise one third of the forward section ma'am, the calculations were correct"

"Carry on" and she turned with a sweep of her cloak to greet her returning Deathwatch Killteam.

*****

A few weeks ago, I posted a work in progress picture of some Deathwatch Intercessors I had been working on.

Finally they are finished:

Nothing much to report, they've been painted in the scheme my friend used on his Titans. 

Namely:

Abaddon black basecoat.

Drybrush of Incubi Darkness.

Lighter drybrush of Thunderhawk Blue.

I wanted to go "Old School" with the red weapon casings to make them stand out from the black armour.

Likewise the silver shoulder pads were looking a little drab compared, so they got a further highlight drybrush of Stormhost Silver ontop of the Leadbelcher/Earthshade base.

Finally, the part where I was trying to push my freehanding skills a little.

The chapter shoulder pads:

(Everyone do the conga!).

From Left to Right:

Mentors Sergeant Ermenrich.

Minotaurs Brother-Varius.

Red Templars Bretheren-Ceallach.

Iron Snake Klepiades.

Black Shield Gustav.

I was originally going to include a Mantis Warrior and a Wolfspear marine, but try as I might, I couldn't get the symbols to look right.

So off came those shoulder pads, fresh ones were glued on and an Iron Snake appeared.

The Black Shield is kind of a get-out as I couldn't think of a good second founding chapter to go for and wanted the squad done and off the desk.

I'm not sure whether or not I'll add to these, they were just a fun painting diversion pulled from a job-lot I picked up off everybody's favourite auction website.

A 'Unit of 2+ models' box has been filled in, I didn't want to use this squad for the "Any model" box for this squad:

At least the dearth of post's is now complete and the grid has been started!

Until next time...

 - Lewis

Hobby Bingo - January recap.

 

Well, it's now February of 2021, so it's time for an update of the Hobby Bingo thing we have going on.

Remember that myself, Dave and Chris are all taking part.

A quick rundown of our extra rules:

• Duplicate units are now permitted.
• Already started models are fine to count for your first grid.
• You must complete a full grid, then start on a second grid, keeping a tally of the points earned month to month.
• You are NOT limited to just GW models. Any miniatures regardless of manufacturer can be used. (We'll discuss different scales other then 28/32mm if/when they come up).
• You may complete a squadron of 2+ Sherman//Leman Russ/equivalent sized vehicles or a Cavalry squadron of 10+ models to count as a "Behemoth/Lord of War' box.

So with that out of the way the current standing is;

Dave is in the lead with 30 points and 2 boxes filled.

Chris is in second with 10 points and 1 box filled.

And I am in last place with 0 points so far.

This should change somewhat soonish as I have several bits nearing completion.

Here's to a good hobby February and onwards to March.

Until next time...

 - Lewis